


MB1 


AVV.vswO 


mm 


V®J 


AV\\ 






imsmsssssm 

8»»»wSk^^ 

■■■I 

HHR 


■HHHHHB 


« 




M|lll|| 

«!ll!l|| 


mSSSsSSs 




smew 

Hss 


Mm* 











• 






* 


•• 

















































. 




r 
















































j 





\ 















































































4 















^ '^1 ^ 1^. ^ ^ !^, ^ -^i <^"i -^i (^. ^ '-<£/>-'. ^ 1^. ^ ^ v9". 



’-<^ "-^> ^ i^. ^ ^ '-^) ^t^. -^-. -^i ^ '^-, i^-; ^-. ^ 


UTAH AND THE 
CIVIL WAR 

q3EING THE STORY 

of the Part Played by the People 
of Utah in That Great Conflict 

with special reference to the 

LOT SMITH EXPEDITION 

and 

The Robert T. Burton Expedition 



Compiled and Edited 

by UNW' 

A 

-T(\m, Margaret M. Fisher 




Assisted by 
C. N. Lund 
and 

Judge Nephi Jensen 

Under Direction of 
The J Q. Knowlton Post of 
THE G. A. R. 












F ~Uh 
•Fsa, 


Copyright 1929 

THE DESERET BOOK COMPANY 
For 

MARGARET M. FISHER 


% ■ 




MMF 


OUR FLAG 





Dedicated to 
The Memory of the 
Heroic Men 
Who Volunteered and 
Answered the Call 
of 

Abraham Lincoln 
In the Hour of 
The Nation’s Peril 
from 

The State of Utah 




TRIBUTE TO THE FLAG 

By Eliza R. Snow 

“I love that flag. When in my childish glee — 

A prattling girl upon my grandsire’s knee — 

/ heard him tell strange tales, with valor rife. 

How that same flag was bought with blood and life. 

“And his tall form seemed taller when he said, 

‘Child, for that flag, thy grandsire fought and bled/ 
My young heart felt that every scar he wore. 

Caused him to prize that banner more and more. 

I caught the fire, and as in \jears I grew, 

I loved the flag; I loved my country too. 

“There came a time that I remember well — 

Beneath the Stars and Stripes we could not dwelll 
We had to flee; but in our hasty flight 
We grasped the flag with more than mortal might; 

“And vowed although our foes should us bereave 
Of all things else, the flag we could not leave. 

We took the flag; and journeying to the West, 

We wore its motto graven on each breast.” 





7 e«* 


Abraham Lincoln 






















































FOREWORD 


o A 


cry from the slave. 

An answer from the woods—the back- 
woods of Kentucky. 

The answer was a man, made to lead a 
nation. 

He found that nation divided against 
itself, and as winds blowing against each other 
cause a whirl wind, 

So the two forces of mind in the nation 
caused tempestuous strife and conflict. 

The plea was made for volunteers to free 
the slave and preserve the Union. 

Every available aid was needed to 
further the cause of this great Nation. 

The call was answered from North, East 
and West. 

The West, though men were scarce, sent 
men, arms, and leadership. 

These men were called to keep open the 
line of communication—to guard the mail. 

And of that expedition this book is 
written.—Author. 


ii m#* 



Brigham Young 




PREFACE 


The actual hostilities of the American Civil War 
commenced on the 12th of April, 1861. On that memor¬ 
able day, Fort Sumpter, in the Charleston harbor, was 
fired upon. From that day to the signing of the terms 
of peace at Appomattox April 9, 1865, the fratricidal 
struggle raged in deadly fury. 

Although Utah was far removed from the scenes of 
hostilities, she, too, was called upon to bear arms in de¬ 
fense of the United States Government for a portion of 
the period of the Civil War. In 1862, the Indians along 
the telegraph lines and mail routes to California became 
very hostile. They destroyed all the mail stations be¬ 
tween Ft. Bridger and the North Platte. They frequently 
attacked and robbed the mail coaches and ruthlessly 
murdered white people. The situation became very 
alarming, for the line of communication was cut off from 
Omaha, Nebraska, to San Francisco, California. 

On the 28th of April, 1862, President Abraham 
Lincoln, through Adjutant-General L. Thomas, called 
upon President Brigham Young to raise, arm and equip 
a company of cavalry ito be put at the disposal of the 
Government in guarding and protecting the telegraph 
lines and mail routes to the Pacific coast. With the utmost 
alacrity, President Young complied with the request of 
the national government. Within three days after the 
call was received, Captain Lot Smith, with a company of 
106 men, commenced their march to the scene of Indian 
depredations. 

This gallant and patriotic band remained in the 
service of their country for about four months. They 
were mustered out August 14, 1862. The story of their 
loyal and faithful service to their country is a part of the 
state's history, as well as a chapter in the annals of the 
Civil War. 

In the preparation of this work, I have spared no 


10 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


effort to make possible the publication of a correct account 
of the Utah expedition of 1862. 

I wish to express my sincere thanks to James Isaac 
Atkinson, Commander of the J. Q. Knowlton Post, G. 
A. R., to C. N. Lund and Judge Nephi Jensen for the 
assistance they have given in compilation. To the Hon. 
Seymour B. Young for a well written story of the Snake 
River expedition, to Dr. Harvey C. Hullinger for the 
use of his private journal. To Assistant Church His¬ 
torian, Andrew Jenson, for the “Burton Diary” and 
other aid. To the “Improvement Era” and the “Young 
Woman's Journal”. To the Hon. Jonathan Edward 
Openshaw, who presented the bill, and the Hon. Elias S. 
Woodruff for their diligent and earnest work in the 
legislative committee in obtaining an appropriation to 
finance publication, and to the Ladies of the Grand Army 
of the Republic. 

The purpose of this book is to preserve the record 
of the brilliant military , achievemnts of these loyal 
American soldiers; and also to furnish a standing refu¬ 
tation of the false charge which has been made, by the un¬ 
informed that Utah in the early days of her history was 
lacking in loyalty to the United States. The promptness 
with which Brigham Young responded to the request of 
President Abraham Lincoln, in raising the company; the 
alacrity with which the company marched to the scene of 
hostilities: and the splendid courage and patriotism which 
characterized their service to country, will forever stand 
as a monument to the loyalty of the founders of Utah to 
the good old U. S. A. 

It is hoped the story herein contained will, on oc¬ 
casions, be brought to the attention of the youth of the 
state by the teachers in our public schools, so that the 
rising generations of ithe state shall know that Utah’s 
pioneers were true Americans who loved the flag of their 
country, and were ever ready and willing to serve and 
sacrifice to uphold its sacred honor. 

This Expedition was the most hazardous ever per¬ 
formed in the West by United States troops in defense 
of their country.— Author. 



Margaret M. Fisher 

Past National Patriotic Instructor 



(j 7HE Latter-day Saints have ever 
/ been true to the United States. 
They have adopted its Constitu¬ 
tion as though it were an article of their 
faith. 


Excessive Patriotism is a splendid 
fault. If there had been no excessive pa¬ 
triotism there would have been neither a 
“Bunker Hill” nor a “Utah". 

A call from the General Government 
for money, munitions and men has al¬ 
ways been met with undying zeal by the 
Mormon People. Charles R. Mabey — 
Governor of Utah. (1921-25.) 












cj 

43 

h 




Q 

Z 

< 

X 

w 

> 

O 


w 

h 


bo 

a 

g 

o 

6 

ns 

43 

t>o 

Wi 

PQ 


cj 

cj 

G 

a> 

TD 

• rH 

CO 

CD 

»-4 


rj w ** . 

bi ■*-» G 
O rt.—< 
o *-» O 
00 u 
w G 

-S-a^j 


CJ 


CO 


I—< CJ 

nS co 
G 

G ° 

o-c 

CJ 

: 43 

CO 4-* 
CJ 

Oh <4-. 


r i 


G h —n fS 

S! ^ 

cj ns 

l-i CJ 1-1 

<4 43 ^ 

^ 'o $ 


CO a 

o 

4~> 

T3 
G ° 
cS 43 


G 43 

s & 
u 

2 bo 

r* 

43 2 

w O 
bO rj 

a 

PU^ 

r . ”c3 
.52 G 

^ '5o 


h 


u 

O 


CJ 


Ut 

% 

a-s-g 


CO 


h 


CO 

CJ 

^■4 

Pu 


CO J y 
V-t cS u-< 
nS cj 
■*- J CJ ’— 1 

_s° o * 
a' ^ 

" 60 
4h res 


CJ 

43 


G 

CJ 

CJ 


CO 

co -a 

CJ 


I . ^ *~~' CJ 

G rt co 


CJ 

CO 

G 

O 

I 

CJ 

> 

• wi 

X 

CJ 

CJ 

PQ 

CJ 

43 


43 

bo 


O 

cj 

G 


ns 


CJ 

*£ t-3 "G 
G 

6^ 

CCS 

43 

CCS 

_ »-4 

CCS 4^ 

o< 


bO <^> 
G 43 
G ~ 

^ G 

% 2 
G *- 

o bo 


ns 


CJ 


ns 

CJ 

> 

O 


„ G 

G 
j 43 
► 

h r* 

1 S 


- CJ 

^<J 4> 

CO 

gir 

G 

O 


J 


G 

cS 

CJ 


CJ 

43 


CJ 4 -J 

43 G 

w 


o : 


G 

o 

u 


CJ M-h 

'So ° 

nS 

m G 

^ o 


bo 

G 

• T-H 

GD 

G 

ns 

-*-» 

co 

co 

CJ 

43 

u 

CS 

O 

U 


G 
O 

G 

bO 

4-J * 

CJ 2 0/3 

■5 S s 

3 O 
G 

r—I QJ 

43 


CJ 

CJ 

e 


bO 

ns 


cj rj. 

43 ^ 
w G 
nS 

M-4 u 

o*a 

CJ 


2< 


o 

u 


co 


CJ 


CJ 

43 


X 

CJ r 

* h 


CJ 

43 

h 


CJ 
Ux 

G 
-*-» 
CJ 

i «-< 

a 

ns 

O cj 
q=! 43 

4 -* 

bo^ 

P-t 

^ 4 -» 

< o 


CJ 

43 


G 

u 


n3 


m 

vo 


CJ 

> 

G S 

CJ 

o 4^ 

CJ 

PQ ^ 


CJ 

43 


G •! 


O 4_i 
1-4 CS 

P-. a 


V-. 

ns 

CJ 

G 


ns 

G 

G 

4-J 

J-4 

o 


Property of Maria Young DougalL 


























1 - 









■ s 































































' 


































TABLE OF CONTENTS 


Page 


Tribute to the Flag _ 5 

Forward _._ 7 

Preface _ 9 

Lot Smith Expedition _ 19 

Personnel of the Lot Smith Com¬ 
pany _ 28 

Captain Lot Smith's Private Jour¬ 
nal _ 30 

Hullinger’s Diary _ 39 

Corporal Seymour B. Young’s 
Narrative of the Tim Goodell 

Incident _ 45 

Hullinger’s Diary (Continued) __ 48 

Lot Smith's Report to Brigham 

Young _ 57 

Hullinger’s Diary (Continued) _ _ 59 

The Bear Lake Expedition_ 60 

Hullinger’s Diary (Continued) ____ 69 

Snake River Expedition _,_ 71 

Hullinger’s Diary (Continued) _ _ 93 
Excerpts from the “Deseret News” 

18 62 __95 

Official Discharge of the Lot Smith 
Company _ 96 


Page 

Story by Huffaker ___ 96 

Lot Smith and “Buffalo Bill”_ 99 

Pacific Springs Station _100 

Stampede _100 

Bear Story ___100 

Lot Smith—Horseman _101 

The Buckskin Pants _102 

Lest We Forget _105 

Official Call of the Burton Co_112 

Burton’s Horse _,_113 

Diary of Robert T. Burton_115 

Col. Robert T. Burton _130 

Reminiscences of the G. A. R. En¬ 
campment, 1909 _135 

Veterans of the Grand Army of 

the Republic _142 

Ladies of the Grand Army of the 

Republic _144 

Dedication of the Site for a Monu¬ 
ment _156 

Court of Inquiry _167 

Report of the Judge Advocate 

General _168 

Brigham Young, Patriot _172 


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 


Page 

American Flag - 3 

Abraham Lincoln _ 6 

Brigham Young _ 8 

Margaret M. Fisher_ 1 1 

Bee Hive House _ 13 

Captain Lot Smith _ 17 

Joseph S. Rawlins _ 20 

John Quincy Knowlton_ 20 

Seymour B. Young _ 23 

Salt Lake City, 1861_ 24 

Fort Bridger _ 32 

Group of Volunteers _ 35 

Josiah Eardley _ 3 7 

Joseph A. Fisher _ 3 7 

Isaac Atkinson - 3 8 

Dr. Harvey C. Hullinger _ 39 

Out Where the West Begins- 41 

George Cotterell _ 43 

Louis A. Huffaker _ 44 

Emigrant Train - 46 

John Neff _ 48 

Benjamin Neff - 49 

Pioneer Trail _ 52 

Solomon H. Hale - 53 


Page 


Ferrying Across the River _ 55 

John H. Walker _ 56 

Charles Crismon, Jr. _ 5 7 

James M. Barlow _ 58 

Samuel H. W. Riter___ 59 

Howard O. Spencer _ 59 

Wm. A. Bringhurst _ 60 

John Hoagland _ 61 

Andrew Bigler _ 61 

Joseph H. Felt _ 62 

Ira N. Hinkley _ 63 

Charles Evans _ 63 

Francis Platt _ 64 

Moroni Woodruff Alexander _ 65 

Thomas H. Harris ___ 65 

Allie S. Rose - 66 

James Larkins _ 67 

Hiram Kimball _ 68 

Lars Jensen _ 68 

James Sharp - 69 

William A. Terry _ 69 

Reuben P. Miller - 70 

Malin Weiler _ 71 

Francis R. Cantwell - 72 
















































































16 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


Page 

Edward A. Noble _ 73 

Wm. Longstrough _ 73 

Wm. C. Allen ..___ 74 

John Arrowsmith _ 75 

Upper Falls, Snake River ___ 76 

James M. Hixson _ 77 

John H. Standifird _ 78 

John Bennion _ 78 

Donald McNicol ___ 7 9 

Moses E. Gibson _ 79 

Shoshone Falls, Snake River_ 81 

Samuel R. Bennion _ 82 

Ephraim Williams _ 83 

Richard Howe _,_ 83 

Joseph Goddard _ 84 

Grand Canyon of the Snake River 85 

James Cragun _ 8 6 

Samuel Hill _ 8 7 

Joseph Terry _ 87 

Wm. H. Rhodes _ 88 

Emerson D. Shurtleff _ 89 

Albert Davis ___ 89 

Hyrum B. North _ 90 

James Green __ 90 

Charles Carroll Burnham _, 91 

Harlon E. Simmons _ 92 

Adelbert Rice _ 92 

Parley P. Draper _93 

Leander Lemmon _ 94 

Hugh D. Park _ 94 

Joseph J. Taylor _ 95 

Landon Rich _ 96 

Edward F. M. Guest_, 97 

Peter Cornia _ 98 

Wm. Henry Bess _ 98 

Wm. S. Grant _ 99 

Powell Johnson _100 

Edwin Brown _101 

Wm. Lynch _102 

Lachoneus Barnard _103 

Thurston Larson _ 104 

Lot Smith _105 

Henry Bird _ 106 

William Harrison Walton _107 

Wm. W. Lutz _ 110 


Page 

Thomas Lutz _111 

Col. Robert T. Burton _112 

Col. Robert T. Burton _114 

Wm. H. Hooper _115 

Heber P. Kimball —._116 

Joseph M. Simmons '___117 

Mark Croxall _1 1 8 

Joshua Terry ___119 

Richard B. Margetts -120 

Orson P. Niles _122 

George W. Thatcher _123 

John W. Wooley _124 

Adam Sharp _125 

Wm. J. Harris _126 

Brigham Young, Jr. _._128 

Lewis M. Grant _129 

Camp Fire _._130 

John W. Young _131 

George Spencer _132 

Henry Heath _ 133 

Col. Henry M. Nevius _135 

Living Flag _137 

The Grand Army Parade _ 139 

Counter March of the Grand 

Army Parade _,_141 

Silver Loving Cup _145 

G. A. R. Emblem _150 

Ladies of the G. A. R. Emblem._153 

Ellenor B. Burns _153 

Effie Smith Palmer _154 

June Kasteler _155 

Minerva Miller _155 

Adley B. Lawrence _156 

Martha R. Alexander _158 

Presenting “Old Glory” _159 

Elizabeth T. C. Crismon_161 

Lucy A. Clark ___1 61 

Mary C. MacKay _163 

Cora F. Smith _163 

Della R. Henry _164 

Lida E. Manson _165 

Nellie R. McMillan _165 

Zina Y. Card _166 

Nellie L. Lyon _167 


























































































V V- 

4 '■ •, 




HHI 


■S^Av 




: >>'.:S : : : 


■ . 


' ''• • .. . .. ? ' - 

. s -■ -y. - ... 


*,j, ts» • 

• • C' : ’'*-’' :‘‘-T i ' *» " ■ ,.■"•< 

4 , ' . .’i 

' • : - '. V ; >V-V-;i - ■ 

’• '■- .1 * ■ ■ '■-'••• -• • • 


e?5 




■••-: •-•- -V' -'Air A V .£: "• V.-TI^:'.-JtV-rrt’ 

•". •-••-* •'•■ -• J» ■ -•' • • - V? ■••■•' 

* ; , ■ . . 

- i 

j-:' VV,- ■ r ■: ' ■; -;Vi V - ' .” 

; i _ 

"‘ JUW» 

■mi 


. , ■' ,.’ ; 

■ i*X J \ ’ • 

- • 




P ■ ' 

L , 


j.i^r ;. - -«* 

. 


1 vf! 




< ..-*. i 


■■-.-■ 


KSSSSjEfi 


wmwm 


Captain Lot Smith 



























LOT SMITH EXPEDITION 


Abraham Lincoln, the majestic figure of the Civil 
War, had his share of trouble at every stage of the struggle 
to maintain the Union. There were many very dark 
days. It is idle to venture an opinion as to which were 
the darkest. Among the very trying times, however, 
were the early days and months of the year 1862, when 
he was so worried over the attitude of England, and the 
probability that she might be induced to openly and ac¬ 
tively come to the aid of the Southern states. Thisl, 
circumstance caused him great anxiety. He was in the 
first year of his administration and the first year of the 
war, and to fail at this time would have been disastrous 
both to himself and the nation. A grave situation con¬ 
fronted him and important problems {had to be solved. 
The solution of these problems demanded the exercise 
of supreme wisdom and courage. 

In the fall of the year 1861 the Confederacy ap¬ 
pointed James M. Mason and John Slidell as ambassadors 
to the court of St. James, London. These envoys had 
some trouble in [getting away but managed to escape 
from Charleston harbor and went thence to Havana, 
Cuba. Here they embarked on the British steamer 
“Trent" for their destination. Immediately the U. S. 
frigate, “San Jacinto", commanded by Captain Wilkes 
of the U. S. Navy, was dispatched to overtake them and 
return them as prisoners of war. The “Trent" was soon 
hailed and boarded and the two ambassadors and their 
secretaries were seized, taken aboard the “San Jacinto", 
and carried back to Boston and there imprisoned. This ac¬ 
tion on the part of Captain Wilkes was loudly applauded 
by the people of the North. The administration felt 
disposed to defend the bold act of Wilkes. But President 
Lincoln soon saw that a grave mistake had been made. 
The act proved to be a serious offense to Great Britain. 
Word was sent from the Court of St. James that open 


20 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


reprisals would be made against the Union unless immedi¬ 
ate reparation was made by the Government of the United 
States. Lincoln therefore instructed Secretary of State 
William H. Seward to transmit a suitable apology to¬ 
gether with an assurance that the two ambassadors should 
be released. The two men and their secretaries were 
then placed on a British vessel and sent on their way. If 
this wise course had not been adopted war with Great 
Britain would have been inevitable. Of course, war with 
a foreign country at that time would have been very 




Lieutenant Lieutenant 

Joseph S. Rawlins John Quincy Knowlton 

disastrous to the Union, and the triumph of the cause 
of secession would then have been assured. 

However, the wise handling of this delicate situation 
did not relieve Lincoln of his anxiety and worry. He felt 
that with Mason and Slidell in London asking for help 
from England in the establishment of the Southern Con¬ 
federacy, that this might still mean a favorable response 
from the overseas country for the Southern cause. Ap¬ 
parently, it would not have taken much effort to bring 
about this aid, for England was already sending out her 






UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


21 


warships to prey upon American commerce and thus 
aid the cause of secession. 

Fully realizing the gravity of the whole situation, 
Lincoln sensed the absolute necessity of keeping open the 
mail and telegraph lines between the Missouri river and 
the Pacific coast, for with communication crippled be¬ 
tween the eastern and the western seaboard, very serious 
consequences might result. The London newspapers 
were arguing that the Federal government was already 
brought to the verge of ruin and that it was no longer able 
to function as a government. The London Star consid¬ 
ered the cause of the Union hopeless, and the Herald said 
it would do well to consider a compromise with the 
South. 

Such was the condition and the outlook confronting 
Lincoln in the early months of 1862. To add to the 
gravity of the situation, the telegraph lines were down in 
the West and the mail stations were being burned by the 
Indians, who robbed the mails and murdered the white 
people along the mail route. Because of this depredation 
by the Indians the mail routes were closed. 

It was at this very critical time that President Lin¬ 
coln ordered Adjutant-General L. Thomas to telegraph 
Brigham Young at Salt Lake City, requesting him to 
raise, equip and muster into service a company of cavalry 
to march to the protection of the mail routes and telegraph 
lines. Adjutant-General Thomas’ telegram was sent on 
the 28th of April, 1862. It contained the following re¬ 
quest: 

“You are requested to muster into the service of the 
United States a company of Utah volunteer cavalry, to 
arm and equip them immediately and send them East for 
the protection of the mail and telegraph lines extending 
from North Platte river below Independence Rock on the 
old Mormon pioneer trail to Fort Bridger.’’ 

His telegram was duly received by Brigham Young. 
When it is remembered that President Young had sent 
a telegram along the same wire to President Lincoln, an¬ 
nouncing that “Utah is for the Union, and does not 


22 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


believe in secession,” it will not be surprising that the 
Mormon leaders responded with alacrity to the request 
made by the great war President. 

Two days before receiving this message, William H. 
Hooper, member of Congress, set out for Washington 
accompanied by the Honorable Chauncey W. West and a 
mounted escort of cavalry under command of Colonel 
Robert T. Burton, to see what could be done to aid the 
Union in keeping open the mail routes. On the 1st of 
May, Brigham Young sent the following telegram to 
Adjutant-General L. Thomas: 

“Great Salt Lake City, Utah, May 1, 1862. 
“Adjutant-General L. Thomas, U. S. A., Washington. 
D. C. 

“Upon receipt of your telegram of April 27th, I 
requested General Daniel H. Wells, of the Utah Militia 
to proceed at once to raise a company of cavalry and equip 
and muster them into the service of the United States 
army for ninety days, as per your telegram. General 
Wells forthwith issued the necessary orders and on the 
29 th of April, the commissioned officers and non-com¬ 
missioned officers and privates, including teamsters, were 
mustered in by Chief Justice John F. Kinney, and the 
company went into camp adjacent to the city the same 
day. 

“Signed, Brigham Young.” 

The men furnished their own horses, bridles, sad¬ 
dles, and all equipment necessary for the service, at their 
own expense, something otherwise unknown in the his¬ 
tory of the Civil War. Many were the hardships endured 
an that memorable campaign, about which much might be 
written. For eight days they were without bread or other 
rations, and many fatalities occurred in their ranks, soon 
after their return home, as a result of the hardships en¬ 
dured while in the service of their country. Captain Smith 
was complimented from Washington, D. C., for the 
alacrity with which his men responded to their country's 
call, and for their splendid performance of duty. The 



Corporal Seymour B. Young 

First Commander of the J. Q. Knowlton Post No. 8. 
Dept, of Utah, G. A. R. 







24 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


Civil War Department records state, “that as a company 
or as individuals their conduct was above reproach”. 

Lot Smith served with “Troops for the Defense of 
the Overland Mail, which troops were commanded by 
Brigadier-General James Craig, United States Volunteers. 

“This Command was subordinate to the Depart¬ 
ment of Kansas, which was commanded by Brigadier- 
General James G. Blunt, United States volunteers.” 

On Wednesday April 30, the enlisted officers and 
men gathered on the Temple Square at Salt Lake City. 
They were met by prominent citizens and friends, who 
came to bid them good-bye. Two companies were or- 



Salt Lake City, 1861. Main St. Looking South 

ganized, and the men were sworn in. On Thursday, May 
1, at 1:00 p. m., orders were given to hitch up the teams 
and make ready ,to march. They marched to the front 
of Brigham Young’s residence and halted. Here they 
received additional supplies. At 4:30 p. m. orders were 
given to move from the city. They marched to the mouth 
of Parley’s Canyon and camped for the night. Before 
retiring, all were called together for the evening prayer. 
This beautiful custom was followed every evening while 



UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


25 


the men were in the service. The roads of Parley’s Canyon 
were impassable because of high water, so the following 
day they marched northward to the mouth of Emigration 
Canyon. Here they were met at noon by President Brig¬ 
ham Young and General Daniel H. Wells, who took din¬ 
ner with the enlisted men. Both of the visitors preached to 
the cavalry, and gave them some excellent advice and 
counsel. The speakers also stressed the importance of the 
undertaking in which the men had enlisted. President 
Young declared that loyalty to country was the first re¬ 
quirement of the men, and that they must defend the 
Union at all hazards, even to the sacrificing of their lives. 
He also admonished them not to partake of strong drink 
or associate with evil men or lewd women. In closing, he 
gave the men the promise that if they would live their re¬ 
ligion, not one of them should fall by the hand of the 
enemy. The following is a portion of the actual words 
of Brigham Young: 

“I desire of the officers and privates of this company, 
that in this service they will conduct themselves as gentle¬ 
men, remembering their allegiance and loyalty to our 
government, and also not forgetting that they are 
members of the organization to which they belong, never 
indulging in intoxicants of any kind, and never associat¬ 
ing with bad men or lewd women, always seeking to make 
peace with the Indians. Aim never to take the life of an 
Indian or white man, unless compelled to do so in the 
discharge of duty, or in defense of your own lives, or that 
of your comrades. 

‘Whenever and wherever you can hold councils 
with their sachems, or peace chiefs, do not fail to embrace 
the opportunity, and thus win their friendship and pre¬ 
vent the shedding of blood if possible. Another thing I 
would have you remember is that, although you are 
United States soldiers you are still members of the Church 
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and while you have 
sworn allegiance to the constitution and government of 
our country, and we have vowed to preserve the Union, 
the best way to accomplish this high purpose is to shun 


26 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


all evil associations, and remember your prayers, and try 
to establish peace with the Indians, and always give 
ready obedience to the orders of your commanding officers. 
If you will do this I promise you, as a servant of the Lord, 
that not one of you shall fall by the hand of an enemy/' 

The company marched at once to the scene of In¬ 
dian lawlessness. The salutary effect upon the law¬ 
less Indians of the entrance of these volunteers to the 
military service of their country was almost instan¬ 
taneous. Shortly after the company had reached the 
scene of histilities, Ben Holliday, pioneer mail con¬ 
tractor and owner of mail stations and horses and vehicles 
for carrying the mail, sent the following telegram to 
President Brigham Young: 

* ‘Thanks to your prompt response to President Lin¬ 
coln's request to furnish Utah volunteers for the protec¬ 
tion of overland mail and telegraph lines. Just as soon 
as these Utah volunteers are located along the line, I will 
proceed to replace my coaches, horses, drivers, and rebuild 
and man the destroyed stations from the North Platte 
river and Independence Rock to Fort Bridger." 

The expedition was no pleasure trip. The men en¬ 
countered rough roads and rougher weather. They were 
called upon to endure almost unbearable hardships and 
bitter privations. Upon one occasion early in the march, 
they encountered ten feet of newly fallen snow. In many 
places the roads were almost impassable and had to be 
rebuilt. A number of bridges were washed out and had 
to be reconstructed. Wash-outs, floods, and storms 
impeded their progress and added to their distress and 
discomfort. But they did not complain. With cheerful 
hearts and brave souls they slowly but steadily marched 
to their destination. They reached Independence Rock 
from the North Platte twenty days after they left their 
homes. Here they joined Colonel Collins, acting divisional 
commander of the upper Missouri and Platte river dis¬ 
tricts of the Federal forces, and became a part of the 
regular army of the United States of America. Captain 
Lot Smith and his company were assigned to duty on the 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


27 


pioneer crossing of the North Platte river along the mail 
and telegraph lines by way of Fort Bridger and westward 
to the Sierra Nevada mountains. 

The latter part of the month of May saw the volun¬ 
teers of Utah moving swiftly from point to point, ex¬ 
tending their march along the line of travel giving ample 
protection not only to the Mail and Telegraph lines, but 
the emigrants as well, who were journeying to Oregon 
and the mining regions of Idaho and Montana; and so 
thoroughly was the work done that early in the month of 
July, 1862, Ben Holliday, the Mail contractor, as he had 
declared rebuilt his mail stations, replaced his coaches, 
teams, drivers and station men, as soon as the Utah vol¬ 
unteers had established themselves along these lines of 
communication. So the mail coaches were running with¬ 
out interruption on the route, the telegraph lines were 
re-established by the Utah volunteers and these lines of 
communication were never again interrupted or broken 
during all the four years of the Civil War. Along this 
stretch of wild country infested with savages they did 
valiant service for their country. 

Colonel Collins' command afforded ample protection 
from Council Bluffs to the North Platte, a distance of 500 
miles. On the West Division was Captain Lot Smith's 
Company of Utah volunteers whose assignment of serv¬ 
ice was from the North Platte, via Fort Bridger, to Salt 
Lake, 600 miles in extent. Captain Lot Smith and his 
valiant company returned to Salt Lake City, August 
14th, 1862. 

On the 20th day of October, 1862, General Patrick 
E. Conner, with his command of California and Nevada 
volunteers from the West, established camp Douglas, 
about 3 miles east of Salt Lake City at the mouth of Red 
Butte canyon. He was the first military protector of the 
great migratory trail from Utah to California. 

PERSONNEL OF THE CAPTAIN LOT SMITH 
COMPANY as it appears on the United States Civil 
War records. Courtesy of Senator Reed Smoot and Carl 
A. Badger . 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


The Captain Lot Smith Company was called into the 
service of the United States Government by President 
Abraham Lincoln on the 30th day of April, 1862. It 
was made up of the two companies, A and B of First 
Cavalry, Utah Militia. They were under the command 
of Colonel Collins and served with “Troops for the 
defense of the Overland Mail, which troops were com¬ 
manded by Brigadier General James Creig, and was Sub¬ 
ordinate to the department of Kansas which was 
commanded by Brigadier General James G. Blunt, 
United States volunteer/' 

There were in all 106 men—23 officers, 72 privates, 
11 teamsters. The teamsters in this company were called 
upon to do the regular work of privates. They stood 
guard and were really entitled to recognition as United 
States Soldiers. 


THE LOT SMITH COMPANY 


Names and Rank When Joined 

1 Lot Smith, Capt. _Apr. 30, 1862 

1 Joseph S. Rawlings, 1 Lt_Apr. 30, 1862 

1 J. Q. Knowlton, 2 Lt_Apr. 30, 1862 

1 Richard H. Attwood, 1 Sergt_Apr. 30, 1862 

1 James M. Barlow, 2 Sergt._Apr. 30, 1862 

1 Samuel H. W. Riter, Sergt_Apr. 30, 1862 

2 John P. Wimer, Sergt_Apr. 30, 1862 

3 Howard Spencer, Sergt_Apr. 30, 1862 

4 Moses Thurston, Sergt_—^Apr. 30, 1862 

1 Seymour B. Young, Corporal_Apr. 30, 1862 

2 Wm. A. Bringhurst, Corporal_Apr. 30, 1862 

3 John Hoagland, Corporal_Apr. 30, 1862 

4 John Neff, Corporal_Apr. 30, 1862 

5 Newton Myrick, Corporal_Apr. 30, 1862 

6 Andrew Bigler, Corporal_Apr. 30, 1862 

7 Joseph H. Felt, Corporal_Apr. 30, 1862 

8 Hiram Clemons, Corporal_Apr. 30, 1862 

1 Charles Evans, Musician_Apr. 30, 1862 

2 Josiah Eardley, Musician_Apr. 30, 1862 

1 Ira N. Hinckley, Farrier_Apr. 30, 1862 

2 John Helm, Farrier_Apr. 30, 1862 

1 Frances Platt, Saddler_Apr. 30, 1862 

1 Solomon Hale, Wagoner_Apr. 30, 1862 


Where Joined 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 























UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


29 


Names and Rank When Joined 

1 Martmi W. Alexander, Private_Apr. 30, 18 62 

2 William C. Allen, Private _ Apr. 30, 18 62 

3 John Arrowsmith, Private _ Apr. 30, 18 62 

4 Isaac Atkinson, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

5 William Bess, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

6 Charles C. Burnham, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

7 John R. Bennion, Private_Apr. 30, 1862 

8 Samuel R. Bennion, Private_Apr. 30, 1862 

9 Edwin Brown, Private _ Apr. 30, 18 62 

10 Francis R. Cantwell, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

11 Chas. Crismon, Jr., Private _ __Apr. 30, 1862 

12 Theo. J. Calkin, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

13 Thomas S. Caldwell, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

14 John Cahoon, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

15 Jesse J. Cherry, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

16 James H. Cragun, Private_Apr. 30, 18 62 

17 Everet Covert, Private_Apr. 30, 18 62 

18 Geo. Cotterel, Private _ Apr. 30, 18 62 

19 Peter Carney, Private_Apr. 30, 1862 

20 Parley P. Draper, Private _ Apr. 30, 18 62 

21 Albert Davis, Private _ Apr. 30, 18 62 

22 Joseph Fisher, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

23 Moses W. Gibson, Private_Apr. 30, 1862 

24 Joseph Goddard, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

25 William Grant, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

26 Jno. Gibson, Private _ __Apr. 30, 1862 

27 James Green, Private _ Apr. 30, 18 62 

28 Edward F. M. Guest, Private.^ Apr. 30, 1862 

29 Lewis A. Huffaker, Private_Apr. 30, 1862 

30 Richard Howe, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

31 Thomas H. Harris, Private_ Apr. 30, 1862 

32 Harvey C. Hullinger, Private_ Apr. 30, 18 62 

33 Samuel Hill, Private_ Apr. 30, 1862 

34 James Hickson, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

35 James Imlay, Private_Apr. 30, 1862 

36 Lars Jensen, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

37 Powell Johnson, Private_Apr. 30, 1862 

38 Hiram Kimball, Jr., Private_Apr. 30, 1862 

3 9 Leander Lemmon, Private _ Apr. 30, 18 62 

40 William W. Lutz, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

41 William Longstrough, Private-Apr. 30, 1862 

42 William Lynch, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

43 James Larkins, Private - Apr. 30, 18 62 

44 Thomas Lutz, Private_Apr. 30, 1862 

45 Reuben P. Miller, Private_Apr. 30, 18 62 

46 Daniel McNicol, Private - Apr. 30, 1862 


Where Joined 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City. Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut 














































30 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


Names and Rank When Joined Where Joined 


47 Edwin Merrill, Private_Apr. 30, 1862 

48 Hiram B. North, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

49 Edward A. Noble, Private_Apr. 30, 1862 

50 Benj. Neff, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

51 Lewis Osborn, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

52 Francis Prince, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

53 Hugh D. Park, Private_Apr. 30, 1862 

54 Lewis L. Polmantur, Private_Apr. 30, 1862 

55 William H. Roades, Private_Apr. 30, 1862 

5 6 Landon Rich, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

57 Alley S. Rose, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

58 Adelbert Rice, Private _ -Apr. 30, 1862 

59 John H. Standifird, Private_Apr. 30, 1862 

60 James H. Steed, Private _ Apr. 30, 18 62 

61 Dan’l C. Lill, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

62 Harlon E. Simmon, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

63 Emerson D. Shurtleff, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

64 James Sharp, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

65 William Terry, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

66 Joseph J. Taylor, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

67 Bateman H. Williams, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

68 Ephriam H. Williams, Private——Apr. 30, 1862 

69 John H. Walker, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

70 James H. Wells, Private _ Apr. 30, 1862 

71 E. M. Weiler, Private_Apr. 30, 1862 

72 Joseph Terry, Private_Apr. 30, 18 62 


Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut, 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 
Great Salt Lake City, Ut. 


1 Joseph S. Rawlins 
1 8 Geo. Cotterell 
34 James Hixson 
29 Louis A. Huffaker 


55 William H. Rhodes 

1 9 Peter Cornia 

2 John P. Wimmer 
46 Donald McNicol 


TEAMSTERS 


1 Mark Murphy 

2 Henry Bird 

3 Wid Fuller 

4 Lachoneus Barnard 

5 Elijah Maxfield 

6 Alfred Randall 


7 William H. Walton 

8 George W. Davidson 

9 Thurston Larsen 

10 Henry L. Dolton 

11 William Bagley 


Captain Lot Smith was not in any sense a literary 
man. He was distinctively a frontiersman. He, however, 
kept a brief journal, a portion of which follows: 

May 1 

Company left Salt Lake City, proceeded to mouth 
of Parley’s canyon, finding that road impassable for 
water, the whole road being washed away. Camped. 
























UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


31 


May 2 

Crossed over to Emigration Canyon, received ad¬ 
dress and instructions from President Brigham Young, 
also from General Daniel H. Wells. One mile up the 
canyon delayed mending road. Camped for noon at 
Big Springs; road very bad; at crossings of the streams 
had to dismount all the men and put on drag ropes. 
Arrived at the other side of the little mountain and 
camped. Had to make a new dugway for 100 yards, 5 
miles up the canyon. 

May 3 

Took Lamb’s canyons. Bad. Camped there. 

May 4 

Passed over the summit. Snow very deep. Had to 
put on drag ropes to the wagons. On the other side had 
to dismount the cavalry and pack the baggage. 

May 5 

Started packing baggage. Took Silver Creek roads, 
so bad the whole canyon was impassable, for water. Went 
along the sides of the mountains, put on about twenty 
men to each wagon with ropes to prevent upsetting; trav¬ 
eled in this way for about 6 miles; camped for night at 
the head of the canyon; good feed. 

May 6 

Crossed the Weber; repaired the bridge; made a new 
bridge at Chalk Creek; camped there. 

May 7 

Took the mountain side. Arrived at the Telegraph 
Station mouth of Echo; water too high to ford; built 
a new bridge; one horse belonging to Brother Sell 
drowned; followed up the canyon, built another new 
bridge and camped. 

May 8 

Could not go up the canyon farther; took the side 
of the mountain, camped a little beyond Cache Cave. 


32 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


May 9 

Arrived at Yellow Creek; the whole bottom flooded; 
built a foot bridge; unloaded the wagons; carried over the 
baggage, men working in the water four hours; drew over 





Fort Bridger 

the empty wagons, reloaded; one horse got mired and 
broke his leg striving to extract himself. It belonged to 
Bishop Smith. 

May 10 

Pleasant journey. Camped on the Muddy. 

May 11 

Made Fort Bridger. Camped 1 mile beyond the 
fort. On our arrival within one-fourth of a mile of the 
fort we were met by one of the mail company, Mr. Hugh 
O. Neil, who informed us we were just in time, that the 
Indians had attacked a mail carriage four miles below 
Bridger. The men saw an Indian sqaw, fired at her, 
turned their horses round and fled back to the fort. 

May 12 

Left Bridger. Nothing extra. Camped at Black’s 
Fork same night. 





UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


33 


May 13 

Passed over to Ham's Fork, borrowed 1000 pounds 
of flour from Mr. Granger at the station to be repaid by 
the supply trains on their arrival; camped at a bad cross¬ 
ing; took out the baggage, packed it over. 

May 14 

Arrived at Green River Ferry at Lewis Robinson's; 
crossed over; traveled six miles. Camped. 

(In the archives of the War Department is a report 
attested by Captain Lot Smith wherein appears the item, 
For ferrying over Green River detachment of Captain 
Lot Smith Cavalry Co., ordered to guard Green River 
stations, Lewis Robinson, $26.00.") From a letter writ¬ 
ten by Lewis Robinson to General Daniel H. Wells, is 
taken the following, to show what the volunteers had to 
endure at times; "We have been two days on this creek, 
swimming at every crossing of the stream. The traveling 
is awful, snow deep; waters high; there is no bottom to 
the mud. You can form no idea of the traveling." 

May 15 

Did not travel. Sent back 6 men for 600 pounds 
bacon and 800 pounds flour at Ham's Fork, belonging to 
Mr. Robinson. 

May 16 

Snow on the ground. Wagon came up with pro¬ 
visions from Ham’s Fork. Traveled on; camped on 
Big Sandy. Very cold. 

May 17 

Cold and stormy. Snow on the ground. Camped 
for noon on Dry Sandy; took 9 sacks barley, two of oats 
from mail station to be reported to the company the first 
opportunity. Camped for night in sight of Pacific Springs. 

May 18 

Mail Station at Pacific Springs deserted; passed 


34 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


through a deep snow bank, 6 or 7 feet; took the Seminole 
cutoff; very cold. 

May 19 

Met a company of immigrants 40 or 45 in number, 
from Denver, enroute to Salmon River. Camped on 
Sweet Water. 

May 20 

Came to the Mail station at Three Crossings; mail 
matter burst open and strewed around. Split Rock sta¬ 
tion not burned, but deserted; camped on Sweet Water. 
Three immigrants from Denver with a hand cart camped 
about one mile from us. W. S. Godbe arrived in camp 
11 p. m. 

R. H. Atwood, Secy. Lot Smith, Captain. 

SWORN STATEMENT 

“I hereby certify that on the 30th day of April, 
A. D. 1862, in obedience to orders of April 28th, 1862, 
from Lieutenant-General Daniel H. Wells, commanding 
the militia of Utah Territory, I mustered into the service 
of the United States by enlistment and administering the 
necessary oath to each of the following named persons to 
serve as privates in a company of cavalry raised by Hon- 
Brigham Young, under express direction of the President 
of the United States, for the protection of the property of 
the Overland Telegraph and Mail companies, for the 
term of ninety days, unless sooner disbanded, to wit; 
(Here follows the names of the 72 privates and the eleven 
teamsters) . Following is the mustering in oath of Judge 
John F. Kinney: 

I, John F. Kinney, Chief Justice of the Supreme 
Court of the United States for the Territory of Utah, do 
hereby certify, that in pursuance of the following order 
from the War Department, I mustered into the service of 
the United States for the period of 90 days, unless sooner 
discharged, the officers whose names appear to this cer¬ 
tificate, by administering the usual oath, and the oath 
provided by the act of congress of August 6, 1861. 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


35 


Washington, April 28th, 1862. 
Mr. Brigham Young, Great Salt Lake City. 

By expresss direction of the President of the U. S. 
you are hereby authorized to raise, arm and equip one 
company of cavalry for ninety (90) days’ service. 

This company will be organized as follows: one 
Captain; one first Lieutenant; one second Lieutenant; one 
first Sergeant; one quartermaster Sergeant; four (4) 
Sergeants; and eight (8) Corporals; two (2) musicians; 
two (2) Farriers; one Saddler; one Wagoner; and from 
fifty-six (56) to seventy-two (72) privates. The com¬ 
pany will be employed to protect the property of the Tele¬ 
graph and Overland Mail companies in or about Inde¬ 
pendence Rock, where depredations have been committed, 
and will be continued in service only until the U. S. troops 
can reach the point where they are so much needed. It 
may, therefore, be disbanded previous to the expiration 
of the ninety (90) days. 

It will not be employed for any offensive operations 



This picture is inserted as being 
typical of the appearance of the Utah 
Volunteers of 1862, who equipped 
themselves. 



36 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


other than may grow out of the duty hereinafter assigned 
to it. The officers of the company will be mustered into 
the U. S. service by any civil officer of the U. S. at Salt 
Lake City, competent to administer an oath. The men 
will then be enlisted by the company officers. The men 
employed in the service above named will be entitled to 
receive no other than the allowance authorized by law to 
soldiers in the service of the U. S. Until the proper staff 
officers for subsisting these men arrive you will please 
furnish subsistence for them yourself keeping an accurate 
account thereof for further settlement with the U. S. gov¬ 
ernment. By order of the Secretary of War, L. Thomas, 
Adjutant-General. 

The following telegram, dated from South Platte, 
was sent to President Brigham Young, from Captain Lot 
Smith, on June 24th, 1862: 

“Camp, Independence Rock. 

I had an interview with Brigadier-General Craig, 
who has just arrived by stage at this point. He expressed 
himself much pleased with our promptness in responding 
to the call of the General Government, with the exertions 
we had made in over-coming speedily the obstacles on the 
road to reach this point and spoke well of our people gen¬ 
erally. He also stated that he had telegraphed President 
Lincoln to that effect and intended writing him at greater 
length ,by mail, and I received later word that he had 
placed the whole of Nebraska territory under Martial law. 
He also remarked that the Utah cavalry were the most 
efficient troops he had in the service, and he proposed to 
recommend that our service be extended an additional 90 
days.” 

Respectfully, 

Lot Smith, Commander Utah Volunteers.” 

From Writings of Joseph A. Fisher, Private 

In the Spring of 1862, City Creek, at the point 
where it empties into the Jordan River, was at least two 
miles wide. All streams were swollen in proportion. 

The entire country along the bed of Bear River was 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


37 


flooded with water for a quarter of a mile beyond the 
river proper. We swam our horses through the depths 
in crossing. As we crossed the plains going East we passed 
many mail stations—one every ten miles. All we en¬ 
countered along the way, lay in heaps of blackened ashes, 




Josiah Eardley Joseph A. Fisher 

Bugler Lot Smith Co., Past Com- Past Commander, J. Q. Knowlton 
mander J. Q. Knowlton Post G. A. R. Post, G. A. R. 

until we arrived at Independence Rock. Many of the 
Mail stations were still smouldering when we came upon 
them. Wagon-loads of United States mail were scattered 
and destroyed by the Indians. In one place the remains 
of a stage coach was still standing. Its occupants had 
evidently alighted when attacked. The wheels on one 
side had been removed, allowing the axles to rest on the 
ground; thus using the wagon as a protecting barrier, 
while sacks of mail were piled up as breast-work. The 
intrepid mail carriers had employed this hopeless means 
of defense against the fierce onslaught of the savage In¬ 
dian. But burning the stations was not enough to satisfy 
their savage instincts, they must needs take human life, 
destroy Government mail and scatter it to the four 
winds. When we arrived at the Sweet Water we 






38 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


constructed a jbridge, crossed over and came to the first 
mail station unburned. The company remained here 
until we were relieved by a company of militia from the 
East. We broke camp and marched towards the West, 
protecting and repairing the lines as we went. 



Isaac Atkinson 

Commander of the J. Q. Knowlton 
Post, G. A. R. 




UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


39 


HULLINGER DIARY, 1862 
Company Physician 

Harvey C. Hullinger kept a 
rather complete journal. The 
following is taken from his 
daily journal entries concerning 
the Lot Smith Company: 

Salt Lake City, Wednesday, 
April 30. Removed to the 
southwest part of the city 
and camped. Here we were 
sworn in and organized. Ed 
Guest and I were appointed 



Dr. Harvey C. Hullinger 

Physician and Surgeon Lot Smith Co. 

cooks for a mess of ten. The 
mess consisted of John P. Wim- 
mer, John Neff, Edward F. M. 
Guest, Hiram B. North, James 
H. Gragun, Eph Williams, Le- 
ander Lemmon, Reuben P. 
Miller, Ben Neff and myself. 

Thursday, May 1. Morning 
was pleasant. About one p. m. 
we were ordered to hitch up and 
mount. At 4:30 we received 


orders to march out of the city. 
We moved up to the mouth! of 
Parley’s Canyon, where we 
camped. Prayer was offered at 
nine p. m. 

Friday, May 2. Marched to 
Emigration Canyon, where 
President Young and General 
Daniel H. Wells met us at nine 
a. m. They both addressed us 
on the duties of Saints, and 
spoke of the mission which we 
were called upon to fill. We 
were instructed to be actuated 
by the Spirit of the Lord. They 
took dinner with us. After 
they left, we moved a mile up 
the canyon. We found it diffi¬ 
cult to cross the creek. The 
reach of Thurston Larson’s 
wagon broke. We took some 
things out of his wagon and 
moved over little mountain and 
camped at Clover Creek. 

Saturday, May 3. We moved 
up towards the park. We found 
the roads badly washed out. 
At one place we dammed the 
creek and turned the water out 
of its course. The roads be¬ 
came muddier. It made hard 
work for the baggage teams. At 
times we had to fasten ropes 
to the horses and pull them 
out of the mud and help them 
up the hills. As we reached the 
summit, the road became al¬ 
most impassable. It took us 
four hours to travel less than 
a mile. We camped on the 
north side of the hill, and called 
the camp “Hard Scramble.” 

Sunday, May 4. Started on 
our march at twenty minutes 
past seven. The roads were 
worse than on the previous day. 
We broke camp at East Can- 


40 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


yon Creek and then moved up 
to William K. Kimball’s ranch 
and camped. The first mile of 
the day's journey was desperate. 
After we reached Ferguson 
ranch we got along much better 
until we came near the Kimball 
ranch, where we found a bad 
mud hole. All day we had to 
carry most of our baggage on 
our riding horses. The snow 
was some three to ten feet deep, 
and very slushy underneath for 
about the first mile. Then it 
was somewhat better for the re¬ 
mainder of the day’s journey. 
It was pleasant overhead. 

Monday, May 5. At seven 
o’clock we struck our tents. The 
morning was clear and pleas¬ 
ant. We moved without diffi¬ 
culty for a few miles down the 
canyon, but farther on we 
found the roads badly washed 
out. We dug in on the side of 
the mountains and let the wag¬ 
ons over with ropes and down 
the hill. We also had to hold 
them with ropes to keep them 
from upsetting. Notwithstand¬ 
ing our difficulties, all was well 
in camp, and the men seemed 
to be merry. Only the Latter- 
day Saints could have sur¬ 
mounted these difficulties and 
remained cheerful. We camp¬ 
ed on Silver Creek. 

Tuesday, May 6. The morn¬ 
ing was bright and clear. We 
moved down across the Weber. 
We went to Chalk Creek and 
built a bridge. I quit the job 
as cook the day we camped on 
Chalk Creek. 

Wednesday, May 7. The 
morning was clear and cool. I 
attended drill and roll call this 


morning at five a. m. At seven 
we struck our tents, hitched up, 
and took up our march. The 
creek was somewhat lower. A 
beef, which had been killed the 
night before, was served in ra¬ 
tions. We moved down to the 
mouth of Echo and built a 
bridge. The stringers of the 
upper side broke under the 
weight of the eighth wagon. 
Two wagons, my own one of 
them, went over and down 
when the bridge broke. One 
of the horses was drowned. We 
moved to the north side of 
Echo and forded. We moved 
to the next crossing, built a 
bridge for the men, and took 
the wagons over by hand, car¬ 
rying the baggage and swim¬ 
ming the horses, and we camped 
for the night. 

Thursday, May 8. We moved 
up near the mail station and 
camped. The snow was sev¬ 
eral feet deep in places, but there 
was none on the road. I sent 
a letter home by James Brom¬ 
ley in a package containing 
other men’s mail. We camped 
above Cache Cave at the junc¬ 
tions of the canyons, where 
there was good water, but wood 
and fuel were scarce. 

Friday, May 9. The morn¬ 
ing was quite clear and cool. 
There was some frost during 
the night. At 6:20 a. m. we 
struck our tents and started on 
our day’s march. Ascending 
the first mountain, we found 
the roads fairly good, but we 
found mud and snow on the 
flats. It was hard pulling for 
the teams. We moved to Yel¬ 
low Creek. We found the 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


41 


water very high. At nine a. m. 
the weather was warm and 
pleasant. We made a foot 
bridge over the creek and car¬ 
ried our loads across. We took 
the wagons across on this bridge 
and swam the horses. We all 
got wet. In crossing Needle 
Creek one of Henry Dalton's 
horses broke its four legs and 
we had to shoot it. It was a 
fine horse. We camped opposite 
Needle Rock. 

Saturday, May 10. The 
morning was cool and clear. We 
struck tents and moved to a 
place within two miles of 
Quaking Asp Springs, where we 
stopped for dinner. After 
traveling about twelve miles we 
reached Bear River. We found 
the crossing fairly good. From 
this point the roads were bad. 
We saw some Indians this even¬ 
ing. We took dinner on Wil¬ 
low Creek. We camped at 5:30 
p. m. on the banks of the big 
Muddy River. The roads were 


good all day. We traveled about 
twenty-eight miles. This even¬ 
ing we drew rations for the 
mess. There was not much to 
do along the roads. The spirit 
of fear seemed to have taken 
possession of those who were 
not of us. 

Sunday, May 11. The morn¬ 
ing was beautiful and pleasant. 
All the men seemed to feel well. 
I attended roll call and was re¬ 
quested by the chaplain to lead 
in prayer. We struck our tents 
at 6:25, and at 8:10 a. m. we 
ascended the large hill. At 9:10 
we saw the first antelope. We 
came in sight of Fort Bridger 
and saw the Stars and Stripes 
floating over it. But as we ap¬ 
proached the fort, the flag was 
hauled down. Those in posses¬ 
sion were fearful that Indians 
were approaching. At 11:45 
we camped east of Fort Bridger. 
Our captain sent a detachment 
of men down to the station to 
look after matters there. On 



Out Where the West Begins 







42 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


their return, they reported that 
they had seen no Indians, except 
one squaw, and camped at 
Bridger. 

Monday, May 12. A de¬ 
tachment of one corporal, one 
sergeant, eight privates, and one 
teamster stopped to guard the 
supply train which was on the 
road. Volunteers were called to 
make up this guard. I vol¬ 
unteered last night, but was 
relieved by Moses Gibson, who 
took my place. We moved 
down below Miller Hill, and 
crossed the stream and camped 
on Smith Fork. We received 
two beefs this morning at 
Bridger. We moved over to 
the crossing at Black’s Fort, 
reaching there about five p. m. 
The day had been windy and 
unpleasant. We saw no Indians 
today. The people all along 
the mail lines seemed to be bad¬ 
ly scared. 

Tuesday, May 13. The 
morning was icool and clear. 
At 6:30 a. m. we struck our 
tents, transferred our clothing, 
bedding, and camp equipment 
to Major Rawlins’ wagon. 
We found the ford impassable 
and crossed the bridge at Ham’s 
Fork. The bridge was in very 
poor shape. A number of the 
boys got their clothing wet in 
crossing Black's Fort. We drove 
five or six miles on the upper 
road. We found the remains 
of some clothing and the skull 
bones of a sister who had been 
buried there last September. As 
the grave was open, we dug 
down and buried the skull. The 
age of the sister was given as 
65. We camped on Dry Creek, 


where there was plenty of good 
grass and water, and greasewood 
for fuel. 

Wednesday, May 14. The 
morning was clear and pleas¬ 
ant. At twenty minutes past 
six we started. Arrived at 
Green River at 11:20 a. m. and 
ferried over the river. We moved 
on to the Big Sandy and stop¬ 
ped at two minutes to two for 
lunch. We moved two or three 
miles farther and camped for 
the night. I drove the beef 
cattle today. I went on guard 
at four a. m. A detachment 
of one wagon and guard was 
selected to go back to Ham’s 
Fork early this morning for a 
load of flour and bacon. This 
evening is cool and windy. 

Thursday, May 15. The 
morning was cool and cloudy. 
I went on guard at four a. m. 
and was released at six a. m. 
The wagon and guard started 
back to Ham’s Fork early this 
morning. The day was rather 
disagreeable. Some snow fell. 
A scouting party went out to 
look for a cache, but returned 
without finding it. We re¬ 
mained in camp all day. Many 
of the men amused themselves 
pitching quoits and in other 
sports. I drew fifty pounds of 
flour for our mess today. We 
have had a good rest after 
climbing the mountains. 

Friday, May 16. The morn¬ 
ing was cool and cloudy. Snow 
fell during the night. We struck 
our tents at 8.30 a. m., and at 
nine a. m. our detachment and 
wagon arrived from Ham's 
Fork with supplies. We had 
quite a thrill this morning. We 



George Cotterell 

Just as he appeared when he enlisted in the Lot Smith Co., 1862 





44 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


saw the first scorpion. It was 
found in one of the tents. It 
did no harm. We started out 
via Sandy and went over and 
crossed the Big Sandy, and stop¬ 
ped on the east side, where we 
arrived at 2:05 p. m. The 
wind was cool, and wood 
scarce. But the grass was good. 

Saturday, May 17. The 
morning was very pleasant and 
cool. Snow fell during the 
night. The sky cleared at eight 
a. m., making the day seem 
more pleasant. At 9:30 we 
saddled up preparatory to a 
start. A strong west wind was 
blowing, but it was not so cold. 
Some of the men complained of 
not feeling well during the 
night. None of them, however, 
were sick. At 11:30 a. m. we 
crossed the Little Sandy, and at 
3:15 p. m. we crossed Dry 
Sandy, and moved up on the 
bench and camped. At 4:30 
p. m. we started for Pacific 
Springs, and camped on Pacific 
Bench. 

Sunday, May 18. The morn- 
ning was cold and clear. The 
ground froze during the night. 
At seven a. m. we crossed Pa¬ 
cific Creek, and went on to the 
last crossing of Sweet Water. 
We crossed the Little Creek and 
camped for noon. We started 
on Seminole cut-off at 1:05 p. 
m., and traveled about fifteen 
miles to within two or three 
miles of Antelope Springs. We 
found more snow on the east 
side of the summit than on the 
west. We also ran into some 
snow drifts. The day was very 
cold. We found pretty good 
grass, water and sage. 


Monday, May 19. The 
morning was pretty cool and 
cloudy. It, froze during the 
night. We struck our tents 
and started at 6:30 a. m. We 
crossed Antelope Springs branch 
at 8:20. Arrived at Sage Creek 
at ten a. m., and at eleven we 
stopped at the head of Warm 
Springs for noon. One Brother 
broke his rifle near Sage Creek 
today. We started and moved 



Louis A. Huffaker 

Past Commander of the J. Q. Knowl- 
ton Post, G. A. R. 

over to the fifth crossing of 
Sweet Water. We found the 
crossing of Ice Springs very bad 
and the mud deep. The mules 
all fell down. 

Tuesday, May 20. The 
morning was pretty clear and 
not so cold as yesterday. I was 
called on guard at twelve noon, 
and stood until seven a. m. We 
met the first train of gold hunt¬ 
ers yesterday near the foot of 







UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


45 


the Seminole cut-off. They 
were bound for Salmon River. 
We went down to the station 
yesterday and found everything 
strewn around. The mail bags 
were opened and the mail mat¬ 
ter scattered all over the house 
inside and out. We got along 
very well today. We camped for 
noon near where the Indians at¬ 
tacked the stage, and found the 
coach stripped of its load. A 
hole had been dug for defense. 
This was about three miles 
above Split Rock. We camped 
at Sweet River about a mile 
above the Rocky Ford. 

('Continued on Page 48) 

CORPORAL SEYMOUR B. 
YOUNG'S NARRATIVE OF 
THE TIM GOODELL 
INCIDENT 

The following narrative, 
written by Corporal Seymour 
B. Young, gives the details of 
incidents which happened on 
and about the 20th of May, 
1862: 

At the bivouac on the moun¬ 
tain side the soldier who is on 
the night watch may be care¬ 
less or indifferent, only anxious 
for the expiration of his watch, 
or guard duty. With this in¬ 
difference he exposes his sleep¬ 
ing comrades and himself also 
to the sudden spring and steal¬ 
thy attack of the lurking savage. 

The guard almost invariably 
is awake, alert and exceedingly 
watchful, realizing that his 
comrades are resting with assur¬ 
ance that no foe can approach 
the camp unchallenged, and un¬ 
opposed, without immediate 
warning to his comrades that a 


vengeful foe is lurking near 
with purpose of dealing death 
with scalping knife or toma¬ 
hawk. 

“On the 20th day of May, 
1862, Lot Smith’s command of 
Utah Volunteers encamped near 
the three crossings of the Sweet¬ 
water, where once a mail station 
of Ben Holliday’s mail line 
flourished. Now all that re¬ 
mained of it was one room, 
or part of the enclosure be¬ 
longing to the horse stables, 
and at the northwest corner of 
the enclosure stood a lone cor¬ 
ner post, the only other re¬ 
mains of the station. On this 
corner post was nailed a notice 
which read as follows: 

“ ‘The volunteer soldiers 
from Utah are out to make war 
on the Indians, the moun¬ 
taineers, and squaw men, and 
are endeavoring to drive them 
out of the country and take pos¬ 
session of their lands.’ 

“This paper was signed b-y 
the principal mountaineers of 
the region, with the exception 
of Jack Robinson, who always 
had shown his faith and loyalty 
to the Utah people. 

“At the bottom of the list 
was the name of Tim Goodell, 
who claimed a large acreage of 
grazing land, and had several 
hundred head of fine-bred cattle, 
in the region of the Pacific 
Springs. 

“As Tim was one of the most 
prominent and widely known 
mountaineers, and had consider¬ 
able influence among his fel¬ 
lows, it was advised by our 
commanding general of Utah 
militia, Robert T. Burton, who 


46 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


had just arrived at our camp on 
his way home from the North 
Platte, that a small party be 
sent to Tim Goodell’s camp, 
located some thirty-five miles 
southeast of our present encamp¬ 
ment, with a warrant for his 
arrest and with orders to bring 
him into camp for a hearing be¬ 
fore a court martial. When this 
decision was reached, two of 
General Burton’s command were 
elected, namely, Colonel Heber 
P. Kimball, and Sergeant Ste¬ 
phen W. Taylor; and one from 
the command of Captain Smith, 
namely, Corporal S. B. Young. 
The small party assigned to this 
duty might at first sight seem 
insufficient, but they proved 
equal to the occasion and ac¬ 
complished what they were sent 
to do. They left camp at 5 a. 
m. the following morning and 
followed the trail in the direc¬ 
tion of the mountaineer’s camp. 
About 11 a. m. a lone horseman 
was seen approaching from the 


South, and when within about 
forty rods of our party he dis¬ 
mounted and, turning his ani¬ 
mal broadside to us, crouched 
behind this living breastwork, 
placed his rifle across the saddle, 
and took deadly aim at one of 
our party. Comrade Taylor re¬ 
marked, ‘What's that fellow 
going to do? Evidently he in¬ 
tends to shoot one of us.’ But 
the shot was not fired, for the 
fellow suddenly withdrew his 
rifle from the rest across his 
saddle, remounted, and rode up 
to our party. 

“ ‘Why did you aim your 
rifle at us?’ was the question 
asked. The fellow replied, ‘I 
took you for Indians, and was 
intending to sell my life as dear¬ 
ly as possible, but on drawing 
a sight on you over my rifle 
barrel I discovered that you were 
white men, hence concluded that 
I did not have any need to fear 
an attack from you.’ We ques¬ 
tioned the fellow in regard to 



Emigrant Train 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


47 


the whereabouts of Tim 
Goodell camp. He readily gave 
us directions how to reach it, 
which afterwards proved to be 
correct. We arrived at the ranch 
of Mr. Goodell about 1 o'clock 
in the afternoon, having covered 
a distance of thirty-five miles, 
since leaving our encampment 
on the Sweetwater. The war¬ 
rant of arrest was read to the 
mountaineer by Comrade Tay¬ 
lor as Mr. Goodell declared that 
he could not read or write even 
his own name. On hearing the 
warrant of arrest Mr. Goodell 
seemed to be considering the 
matter for a few moments, and 
finally made this reply, ‘I will 
go with you to your headquar¬ 
ters, without opposition on my 
part.” This was a very proper 
and safe answer for us, because 
there were only three of our 
party and we were in the 
stronghold of the mountaineer, 
and outnumbered at least three 
to one. Then Mr. Goodell 
showed the proverbial hospital¬ 
ity of the range rider and plains¬ 
man, extending to us an invita¬ 
tion to have dinner with him, 
which we gladly accepted. Din¬ 
ner was prepared, consisting of 
choice cuts of elk meat fried to 
a turn in the bake kettle, over a 
live wood-fire, and fresh baked, 
warm biscuits, and coffee, to all 
of which our party did ample 
justice. As soon as dinner was 
over, we mounted our horses 
and, with Mr. Goodell, started 
on our return for headquarters 
at the camp on Sweetwater. 
From the time that Mr. 
Goodell consented to go with 
us, he immediately began drink¬ 


ing from a large whiskey bottle, 
and when dinner was over and 
we were ready to start on our 
return, the old mountaineer was 
so thoroughly drunk that one 
of our party was compelled to 
ride by his side and help to hold 
him in his saddle. His condi¬ 
tion, and the assistance we had 
to give him, detained us, and 
taps had been sounded and 
lights were out hours before our 
return to camp. 

“The prisoner was placed in 
the guard-tent and a special 
guard was set to watch over 
him the balance of the night. 
When we left the ranch of Mr. 
Goodell he bade goodbye to his 
Indian wife, and said I am never 
coming back. The following 
morning after our arrival in 
camp, a court martial was or¬ 
ganized with General Burton 
presiding, and Mr. Goodell was 
placed on trial. Here he again 
declared he could neither read 
nor write not even his own 
name, and that some other 
party, without his consent or 
knowledge, had written his 
name on that offensive docu¬ 
ment found nailed to the corner 
post of the burned corral. So 
well did this old mountaineer 
plead his cause that the mem¬ 
bers of the court martial were 
convinced of his innocence, and 
he was set at liberty. We saw 
him start for his home, on the 
adjournment of the court, and 
as he rode a little distance from 
our camp, he turned in his sad¬ 
dle and gave three cheers, seem¬ 
ing to be thoroughly impressed 
with thankfulness for his life 
and liberty. We saw no more 


48 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


of Tim Godell till the follow¬ 
ing month of July when we had 
again established our camp in 
the region of the Pacific Springs. 
Mr. Goodell, in the meantime, 
had moved his headquarters in 
close proximity to the Springs. 
Our command at this date had 
consumed all their rations, and 
a letter was sent by Corporal 
Young to Mr. Goodell with a 
requisition for a thousand 
pounds of flour and a dressed 
beef. When the note was pre- 



Corporal John Neff 

sented to Mr. Goodell he look¬ 
ed at it, gave it back to the 
messenger and said, ‘Please read 
this for me,” and when the con¬ 
tents of the note were made 
known to him, Mr. Goodell 
said: 

“ ‘Please tell Captain Smith 
that the beef and flour will be 
delivered at his camp early to¬ 
morrow morning, and that I 


have here 200 head of fat cattle 
and five thousand pounds of 
flour, and every hoof of my 
cattle, and the flour are at his 
disposal and subject to his 
order.’ 

“And this was his way of 
showing gratitude for life and 
liberty given him at the trial 
of the court martial, some 
months before, resulting from 
the burned corral document.” 

HULLINGER’S DIARY 

(Continued from Page 45) 

Wednesday, May 21. The 
morning was pleasant, clear and 
beautiful. Reports came last 
night that the post at Devil’s 
Gate was burning. We were 
ordered for the first time to have 
our arms and ammunition 
ready. We moved down to 
Plat’s station. Found it deserted 
and the corral burned. We 
met Captain Burton’s command 
and took dinner together. 
Hitched up and moved down to 
Bridge station. Found that the 
telegraph could be operated, but 
otherwise things were pell mell. 
Immigrants had dug up the 
cache and stolen the horses and 
other things. We wrote and 
telegraphed home. 

Thursday, May 22. The 
morning was clear, pleasant and 
beautiful. The detachment con¬ 
sisted of Lieutenant Robery, 
Sergeant Wimmer and Corporal 
Neff, twenty-seven privates and 
one bugler. The captain and 
the others of the command went 
up to the river to make a selec¬ 
tion of grounds for quarters. 
The weather has been change- 




UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


49 


able. I was called to take the 
afternoon guard from twelve 
noon to eight p. m. We found 
the grass here pretty good. The 
men went to work today and 
cleaned up the old station. 

Friday, May 23. The morn¬ 
ing was clear and pleasant. I 
did my washing. It consisted 
of a shirt and a pair of gar¬ 
ments. The boys enjoyed them¬ 
selves today pitching quoits 
and other innocent amusements. 
About one p. m. Captain Lot 
Smith arrived with twenty-five 
of his men to meet the other 
command which is expected to 
arrive tomorrow. The day 
passed off quietly. Nothing of 
importance transpired. We were 
called out and drilled on the 
road east of the station as dis¬ 
mounted cavalrymen. The flag 
staff was raised, and John Neff 
was sent for a flag. 

Saturday, May 24. The 
morning was cloudy but quite 
pleasant. This afternoon we 
were called out to drill. We 
went through the form com¬ 
pany by twos to the right march 
and formed platoons by fours, 
left wheel guide, right march all 
the rest of the guide’s march. 
One of the wagons, which had 
been left, came up with some 
provisions. Among the pro¬ 
visions, there was fresh beef, 
which was very welcome to all 
the camp. All seemed to enjoy 
themselves very much. Prayer 
call was sounded at 8:30 p. m. 
Comrade Clements officiated. 

Sunday, May 25. The morn¬ 
ing was pleasant, warm and 
clear. Captain Lot Smith and 
several others went east to meet 


the troops that were coming 
from the States. He returned 
in the afternoon and reported 
that the eastern troops were sta¬ 
tioned at Plat Bridge. Three 
men with one four-mule wag¬ 
on were sent to Deer Creek for 
a galvanic battery. About noon 
a large train of California im¬ 
migrants, with a number of 
fine horses, passed the post. I 
was called on guard at six p. m. 



Benjamin Neff 

Was released for supper and 
went on until 9:30 p. m. 

Monday, May 26. I was 
called on guard at 3:30 a. m., 
and relieved at 5:30 a. m. Cap¬ 
tain Smith, the lieutenants, pri¬ 
vates and teams left Devil’s Gate 
to meet the rest of the com¬ 
mand. One of our wagons 
went to bring down provisions 
from the commissary. With 
this wagon went one sergeant, 
one corporal, eight privates, one 




50 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


teamster, and one blacksmith. 
David Kimball arrived today 
with beef, sugar, flour, coffee 
and other articles of food. Cap¬ 
tain Smith sent down orders 
for me to go down to camp to 
assist in making a bake oven. 
The boys are all well. The day 
has been windy. Quite a train 
of travelers passed us today. 

Tuesday, May 27. The 
morning was pleasant and 
pretty warm. I started for 
Devil’s Gate. Upon my ar¬ 
rival I took charge of building a 
bake oven which was finished 
early in the afternoon. One of 
the men in camp is sick. The 
teams were sent up to the moun¬ 
tains for timber and returned in 
good season. Our camp is just 
below the creek which enters 
just above Devil’s Gate. The 
house and corral will be built 
a few rods below Wheeler’s and 
Merchant’s station. I was call¬ 
ed to lead in prayer this even¬ 
ing. 

Wednesday, May 28. The 
morning was beautifully clear 
and warm. The men went to 
the mountains after more logs 
this morning. All are as busy 
as bees. The cross-cut saw is 
running and axes are swinging. 
Shovels and spades are in great 
demand. We proceeded well 
with the building until the 
lumber was all used. The com¬ 
missary orderly sergeant went 
down to the bridge and reported 
that everything was all right. 
I took the sand out of the oven 
today, and made a bake pan 
out of a piece of old stove pipe. 
It was the best material we 
could get. Even that kind was 


scarce. I also made a long 
handled spade with which to 
take out bread, and a scraper 
with which to clean the oven. 

Thursday, May 29. The 
morning was rainy and dis¬ 
agreeable. There was quite a 
rain during the early evening. 
H. D. Park and myself went 
hunting this afternoon, but we 
did not kill any game. Captain 
Smith went to the telegraph 
station and received a telegram 
from Brigadier-General Craig, 
advising him to start fifty men 
toward Ham’s Fork, at which 
place Indians had stolen sixty 
horses. The telegram also ad¬ 
vised that Bromley was on the 
way down with stock. This 
evening finished our first month 
in the service. 

Friday, May 30. The morn¬ 
ing was pleasant. Captain 
Smith started out for Ham’s 
Fork, leaving here three officers, 
Lieutenant Rawlings, Sergeant 
Wimmer, and Corporal Neff, 
and some forty to fifty men. 
Thurston Larson and six of us 
drove to Independence Rock to 
repair the bridge which had been 
washed out on the west side. 
We obtained the stone to repair 
the bridge from Independence 
Rock. Two teams started for 
the mountain for timber this 
morning. The Sweet Water was 
running over its banks in many 
places this morning. The troops 
are on their way down to In¬ 
dependence Rock. We started 
at about two a. m. 

Saturday, May 31. The 
morning dawned quite clear, but 
some clouds were hanging over 
the mountains. This morning 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


51 


we moved our camp around to 
the front of the corral. We 
received word that the United 
States troops had received orders 
to march to the south pass. 
They passed here about eleven 
a. m. I was called on guard 
at 9:20 a. m. and came off at 
1:40 p. m.; went on again at 
six p. m., and came off at twelve 
p. m. Word came yesterday that 
our supply train was at Ham's 
Fork held up by high water. 
Provisions are getting so low 
that there is talk of putting us 
on half rations. 

Sunday, June 1. The morn¬ 
ing was clear and pretty cool. 
A detachment of two wagon 
loads of men went down to In¬ 
dependence Rock, to repair the 
bridge. The water had nearly 
undermined the abuttments. 
The weather was very warm at 
about ten o’clock. It began to 
look like summer. At noon it 
was quite cloudy. There were 
signs of rain. 1:30 some rain 
and hail fell. The detachment 
returned, bringing a telegram. 
The boys had some difficulty in 
finding the horses belonging to 
John Neff, Benjamin Neff, and 
Joseph Fisher. They found 
them in the evening. The day 
closed very pleasant and warm. 

Monday, June Z. The morn¬ 
ing was pleasant and clear. At 
about 11:15 there were signs of 
rain. Two wagons went to the 
mountains for timber for house 
and corral. A number of 
mountaineers came to the station 
this morning, and we had an in¬ 
teresting shooting match. Slade 
and Eaton are expected soon 
with the mail. We climbed up 


the rocks at Devil’s Gate. It 
is a rough and dangerous place. 
The day closed cloudy and cool, 
the wind blowing from the 
west. 

Tuesday, June 3. The morn¬ 
ing was clear and cool. It 
turned warm about eleven a. m. 
We finished putting up the logs 
before noon. Did a little after¬ 
noon. It was stormy. At the 
morning roll call Comrade 
Lemmon led in prayer. One 
man was tried for swearing. 

Wednesday, June 4. The 
morning was clear and pleasant. 
I obtained permission from the 
lieutenant to go to the telegraph 
office to see Eaton and Slade 
about getting my pay from the 
telegraph company. They ac¬ 
knowledged by draft collect. 
Eaton agreed to pay it when he 
got to the city. G. Appleby 
signed a receipt, which I author¬ 
ized him to do by telegraph. I 
was called.on guard at 3:30 and 
retired at 8:30; came on again 
and stood until 3 a. m. Some 
work was done on the house 
today. We killed a beef this 
evening. 

Thursday, June 5. Came 
off guard at three a. m. The 
morning was clear and pleasant. 
All hands were busy cutting 
sage brush with which to cover 
the house. It was very windy 
this afternoon. The stage 
passed here about nine o’clock 
this morning for the first time 
since our arrival here. I sent 
a package of letters to the city 
by Mr. Eaton. It is expected 
that the mail coaches will begin 
to run regularly in a few days. 
Brigadier-General Craig is ex- 


52 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


pected to be at the station to¬ 
morrow. United States troops 
are ordered back to the bridge. 
Bromley is at Pacific Springs. 

Friday, June 6. The morn¬ 
ing was fair and pleasant. The 
prayer was offered by Comrade 
Wimmer, after we were drilled 
as dismounted cavalry. We re¬ 
ceived orders to clean up our 
guns and also to clean up the 
camp ground. Last evening we 
had a merry time in camp. All 
sang. Some good songs were 
sung. Five wagon loads of peo- 


ant Rawlins and others were 
down to the rock this morning. 
Quite a number of immigrants 
passed here today. One supply 
wagon arrived today with pro¬ 
visions consisting of flour, ba¬ 
con, molasses, hard bread, etc. 
The guard left at Bridger came 
along this evening. The even¬ 
ing was cool and cloudy. Prayer 
was offered by Comrade J. 
Rawlins. 

Sunday, June 8. The sun 
rose in a clear sky, but there 
were clouds hanging over the 



Pioneer Trail 


pie passed us today. It rained 
this afternoon, and the men 
played ball. 

Saturday, June 7. The morn¬ 
ing was pretty warm, but 
cloudy. This morning prayer 
was offered by Miller. We were 
ordered to chink and finish the 
other house. At about 9:30 
a. m. Brigadier-General Craig 
came by in a coach. He stopped 
to see us. He was quite sociable. 
He directed us to call on their 
quartermaster for supplies in 
case ours ran out before others 
came from our source. Lieuten- 


mountains. It looked like rain. 
The day has been quite stormy. 
Nothing of any consequence 
transpired. The mail coaches 
have passed twice a day since 
the mail line began operating 
regularly. It looks more nat¬ 
ural. It is not so lonesome as 
it was before. 

Monday, June 9. The morn¬ 
ing was quite pleasant. The 
first business of the day was to 
haul clay, and chink and daub 
the house and make it ready for 
the use of the commissary de¬ 
partment. One team went to 



UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


53 


the mountains for wood and re¬ 
turned with a large load. The 
day was quite windy. The 
Sweet Water was about as high 
as it has been since we came here. 
I drew two sketches of the 
Devil’s Gate. This afternoon we 
moved our tents up on the bench 
on account of the lowlands be¬ 
ing very damp. 

Tuesday, June 10. The 
morning was pleasant and clear. 
I was called on guard at 3:20 
a. m. and remained until 8:40. 
The stable call was sounded and 
we drove up the herd. The 
boys saddled up by order, and 
were drilled on the hill by Lieu¬ 
tenant Rawlins. We went out 
to meet the first Church train 
that came from the East. It was 
in charge of Captain Murdock. 
Their animals looked pretty 
well, but one was lame and an¬ 
other had a broken leg. Late 
in the afternoon Captain Dun¬ 
can’s company passed and 
camped to the east, near the 
rocky path. Quite a large train 
of people bound for Salmon 
River camped near Brigadier- 
General Craig's headquarters. 

Wednesday, June 11. The 
morning was cool. It became 
more pleasant after sunrise. I 
was called on guard at three a. 
m. and came off at 7:40 a. m. 
The train bound for Salmon 
River passed west this morning. 
The men were cursing and 
swearing. At about noon it 
clouded up and looked very 
much like rain. A few of the 
soldiers from the rock came to 
see us today. The telegraph 
line is down. The operator 
went up to repair the break. 


The teams were sent to the can¬ 
yons for timber to be used in 
building a bridge for the 
Church train to cross. The sta¬ 
tion bridge was not considered 
safe until repaired. We tore 
down one of the houses we had 
built to obtain raft and bridge 
timber. The bridge is to be 
built just below the Devil's 
Gate. 

Thursday, June 12. The 
morning was pleasant and clear. 
Prayer was offered by Comrade 
Terry. Teams were sent to the 



Solomon H. Hale 

Wagoner. 


canyons for more bridge timber. 
All hands, except the cooks and 
guards, were called to work on 
the bridge, so that the Church 
train could cross over. This 
was done to save $2.00 a wagon 
as toll, which would be charged 
at the crossing of the Rock 
Bridge, and it would amount to 
about $600.00 for the train. I 




54 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


was dispatched to see to the 
loading of Captain Duncan’s 
team with timber. When they 
came up we built a raft and 
floated the captain’s train across 
the stream. One wagon went 
overboard and floated down 
stream a,bout a quarter of a 
mile, but it was saved without 
any loss. 

Friday, June 13. The morn¬ 
ing was clear and pleasant. The 
order of the day was to go to 
work at the bridges. Quite a 
number of the boys have colds, 
and complain of not feeling 
well. The U. S. troops passed 
down this morning. These were 
the same troops that came up 
shortly after our arrival on the 
1st of June. Quite a number 
of immigrants passed. They 
were bound for the Salmon 
River country. We completed 
the abuttments of the bridge, 
and put the bend together. The 
day was pleasant. The train is 
expected tomorrow. Quite a 
number of the boys have gone 
up to see it. The sky clouded 
this evening. The news came 
today that the last of General 
Craig’s command would arrive 
today. 

Saturday, June 14. The 
morning was cool and pleasant. 
About nine a. m. the clouds 
commenced to gather, and it 
commenced to lightning and 
thunder, with high winds and 
rain. About 10:30 it cleared 
up a little, but there is indica¬ 
tion of more rain. It is still 
thundering in the distance. The 
Sweet Water went down several 
inches today. Captain Horne’s 
train passed this afternoon. 


They crossed safely by raft be¬ 
fore night. A few immigrants 
passed. It has been very dis¬ 
agreeable most of the day. I 
was called on guard at four p. 
m. Came off at eight a. m. I 
got a letter from home today. 

Sunday, June 15. I went on 
guard at twelve midnight and 
stood until three a. m. The 
wind blew hard all night. One 
of the tents was blown over, 
and most of the others tore 
loose. A train of immigrants 
passed this morning. Captain 
Harmon’s train of thirty-five 
wagons passed this afternoon. 
A train of immigrants stopped 
just above us for the day. The 
wind was blowing hard all day 
up to eight p. m. 

Monday, June 16. The wind 
was still blowing. The morn¬ 
ing was clear and quite cool. 
Captain Harmon’s company 
crossed on the raft. Nine im¬ 
migrant wagons were taken 
across this morning. In cross¬ 
ing the stream, one wagon got 
off the raft and one Brother 
lost a satchel containing cloth¬ 
ing. There was some horse 
trading in camp this morning. 
I sent a package of letters to the 
city, including one for myself. 
Lieutenant Rawlins went to see 
the Lieutenant-Colonel. He 
left orders to march, but the 
men voted to finish the bridge, 
and the vote carried. 

Tuesday, June 17. The 
morning was pleasant. The 
wind ceased blowing. Most of 
the men worked on the bridge 
this morning. The troops passed 
last night for the south pass. 
Quite a number of immigrants 



Ferrying Across the River 


passed this morning. Some were 
enroute to California and others 
to Salmon River. We made 
progress in our work on the 
bridge. We got the bend in 
place and got the stringers ready 
to cover. Today I met Emery 
Runks, a boy who attended my 
school when I was teaching in 
Ohio fifteen years ago. From 
him I learned of my relatives. 

Wednesday, June 18. The 
morning was pleasant and clear. 
A wagon was sent to the moun¬ 
tains for covering for the 
bridge. Most of the men began 
to cover the bridge. A number 
of our horses were lost this 
morning. John and Benjamin 
Neff’s were among the number. 
Major Rawlins gave strict or¬ 
ders that the horses be herded 
more carefully, and that they be 
kept together so that none 
would be lost. The bridge was 
fixed today. 

Thursday, June 19. It was 


another pleasant, clear morning. 
We were ordered to wash up 
our clothes preparatory for 
starting to the south pass. Quite 
a large train of immigrants 
camped near us last night. Some 
of them were bound for the 
Salmon River country, and 
others for California and Ore¬ 
gon. The Sweet Water has 
been raising considerably the 
last few days. It is nearly as 
high as it has been- at any time 
since we came here. At about 
four a. m. it clouded up and 
looked very much like rain. 

Friday, June 20. It was an¬ 
other cool and pleasant morn¬ 
ing. I went on guard at 3:40 
a. m., and came off at eight a. 
m. The day has been a mix¬ 
ture of hot, cold, wet, dry. 
There were fewer immigrants 
passed today than any other 
day. We understand that we 
are to start for south pass to¬ 
morrow. All are busy patch- 







56 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


ing, repairing and washing their 
clothing; fixing lassoes and 
lariats; cleaning guns and pis¬ 
tols; and making bullets. All 
seem to be glad about the move. 

Saturday, June 21. The 
morning was clear. I went on 
guard at 3:30 a. m. and came 
off at 6:30 a. m. We drove up 
the herd. The boys bridled 



John H. Walker 


and saddled their horses and 
made ready for a start toward 
the south pass. We moved up 
to Antonian’s Point and stop¬ 
ped for noon. The roads were 
very dusty. Just below Plant’s 
Station we met a large train of 
immigrants enroute to Salmon 
River. The boys wanted me 
to commence cooking again. I 
complied with their request and 
commenced this evening. The 
day has been very warm and 
the roads sandy and dusty. We 
camped on the last landing be¬ 


tween Split Rock and the 
crossing. 

Sunday, June 22. The morn¬ 
ing was clear and pleasant. We 
had some trouble in catching 
our animals this morning. We 
moved up to within two or 
three miles of the fifth crossing 
and stopped for noon. Some 
of the boys went back to catch 
two horses that ran away from 
the herd this morning. We 
moved about half a mile and 
stopped and made camp for the 
night. Some immigrants passed 
nearby. 

Monday, June 23. The 
morning was quite pleasant, 
being a little cloudy. The boys 
who went after the horses did 
not return last night. The re¬ 
sult of their search is not yet 
known. At 5 :50 we struck our 
tents. The horses were called 
in. We found the boys at the 
station. They did not find the 
lost horses. We moved up to 
Warm Springs branch about a 
mile above the station and stop¬ 
ped for noon. I received a letter 
from home today. There was 
quite a hail storm shortly after 
we started. After we crossed 
Sage Creek we traveled up to 
Antelope Springs to camp for 
the night. The day closed quite 
cool. 

Tuesday, June 24. The 
morning was damp, cool and 
cloudy. We remained in camp 
for the day in order that we 
might go to Rocky Ridge for 
some supplies. A large train of 
immigrants started from here 
this morning for Salmon River. 
The mail company maintains a 
tent here for a temporary sta- 








UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


57 


tion to be used until Sweet 
Water River is low enough to 
cross. One horse, which we 
had traded for, gave out last 
night. I went along on an 
Antelope hunt, but did not get 
any game. Captain Haight’s 
Church train arrived this morn¬ 
ing. 

Wednesday, June 25. The 
morning was quite clear and 
pleasant. It rained quite hard 
last night; there was also some 
wind. We started at 6:30 a. m. 
After crossing Rock Creek we 
stopped for noon. It rained 
while we were hitching up. We 
moved up to Captain’s quarters 
and found the boys all well. A 
few of them had been sick. We 
camped eight miles southeast of 
Pacific Springs near the foot of 
the mountains. There is water, 
wood and good grass. We ex¬ 
pect to start up the road to¬ 
morrow or the next day. 

Tuesday, June 26. The 
morning was clear and pleasant. 
Captain Smith went down to 
the Lieutenant-Colonel to learn 
what orders were to be given. 
The Captain received no orders. 
We probably shall remain here 
for several days. Our animals 
are doing well. The boys were 
drilled today as dismounted 
cavalry by John P. Wimmer. I 
killed an antelope today. The 
meat tasted good after eating 
so much prairie chicken. 

Friday, June 27. The morn¬ 
ing was clear and pleasant. Or¬ 
ders came from the Lieutenant- 
Colonel for us to start for Fort 
Bridger tomorrow morning. 
The bugle was sounded, the 
boys called together, and notice 


of the move was given. All 
seemed to be glad that we were 
going to move again. Captain 
Lot Smith sent the following 
written report to President 
Young: 



Charles Crismon, Jr. 


REPORT OF CAPT. LOT 
SMITH TO PRESIDENT 
BRIGHAM YOUNG 

Pacific Springs, 
June 27, 1862. 
President Young: 

I have just received orders 
from General Craig through 
Col. Collins to march my com¬ 
mand to Fort Bridger to guard 
the line from Green River to 
Salt Lake City and start from 
here tomorrow morning. Lieut. 
Rawlins and command arrived 
here yesterday. Owing to neg¬ 
lect of the mail my orders to 
Lieut. Rawlins did not reach 
him until eight days after they 



58 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


were due, consequently there has 
been no detail left at Devil’s 
Gate. 

There has been built by the 
government at the former place 
a log house 20 ft. by 16, with 
bake house, etc., attached; also 
a commodious corral. Lieuten¬ 
ant Rawlins has left the above 
in charge of Major O’Farral, 
Ohio V., but occupied by 
Messrs. Merchant and Wheeler, 
traders who formerly owned the 
station that was destroyed there. 
The property is subject to our 
order at any time. The com- 



James M. Barlow 

2nd Sergeant Lot Smith Co. 


mand also made a good and sub¬ 
stantial bridge on Sweet Water. 
Three of our trains crossed over. 
The mail bridge would have 
been $2.00 per wagon. This 
bridge is free and also in charge 
of Major O’Farral. Several im¬ 
migration companies crossed 
during the time the command 


was there free. One company 
presented us with a good wagon 
which Lieut. Rawlins handed 
over to Captain Harmon. 

Have had frequent interviews 
with Col. Collins and officers; 
they have behaved very gentle¬ 
manly and expressed themselves 
much pleased with our exertions 
and seem disposed to render us 
every assistance to contribute to 
our comfort. Col. Collins is 
decidedly against killing Indians 
indiscriminately and will not 
take any general measures until 
he can ascertain satisfactorily by 
whom the depredations have 
been committed, and not then 
resort to killing until he is satis¬ 
fied that peaceable measures have 
failed. 

Col. Collins and officers all 
allow that we are the best suited 
to guard this road, both men 
and horses. They are anxious 
to return and if they have any 
influence I imagine they will try 
and get recalled and recommend 
Utah to furnish the necessary 
guard. The Colonel has just 
left our camp. He has sent for 
Washakie, chief of the Snakes, 
with a view to make treaty or 
obtain information. 

No sickness at all in camp at 
present. We are attached to 
Col. Collins’ Regiment, General 
Craig's Division, and furnish 
our muster description and other 
returns to that command. 
Should General Wells require 
duplicates we will forward 
them. 

I am Sir, 

Yours respectfully, 

Lot Smith. 







UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


59 



Sergeant 

Samuel H. W. Riter 


HULLINGER’S DIARY 
(Continued) 

Saturday, June 28. The 
morning was clear and pleas¬ 
ant. We struck tents, loaded 
up, and started out at six a. m. 
We moved over to Pacific 
Springs branch and stopped for 
noon. We passed two im¬ 
migrant trains near the springs. 
We moved over to the Dry 
Sandy. We found no water to 
suit, and moved on between the 
Dry Sandy and the Little 
Sandy. We had to dig for 
drinking water. We found good 
sage brush for fire wood. 

Sunday, June 29. The morn¬ 
ing opened warm and showery. 
The mosquitoes were bad last 
night. We moved down to the 
Big Sandy about a mile and a 
half and camped for the rest of 
the day. We found Sergeant 


S. H. W. Riter camped about 
a mile below the station. The 
cavalry company were all camp¬ 
ed together for the first time 
since May 31. There were lots 
of scorpions here. I killed five 
or six today. They were found 
under nearly all the rocks. 

Monday, June 30. The 
morning was pleasant. We 
traveled down below the Big 
Timbers Station and camped for 
noon. We heard that two wag¬ 
ons were turned back on ac¬ 
count of small pox. We hitched 
up and moved several miles and 
camped on the Sandy. We drove 
the animals across the Sandy for 
the night. 

Tuesday, July 1. It was a 
pleasant morning. We hitched 
up and moved down the Green 
River. We ran into a slough 
on the north side of the river. 
It was very muddy. A number 



Howard O. Spencer 
Sergeant 






60 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


of the animals got down. We 
pulled the wagons over with 
ropes. We went through mud 
and water to the bank of the 
river. We ferried the saddled 
horses first, and then the wag¬ 
ons and mules. The banks of 
the river are lined with immi¬ 
grant wagons awaiting their 
turn to be ferried over. 

Wednesday, July 2. The 
morning opened pleasant but 
cloudy. Our ten were detached 
to stop here. The rest of the 
command went on to Fort 
Bridger. They passed off with¬ 
out anything of moment oc¬ 
curring. 

(Continued on Page 69) 

In order to preserve the 
chronological order of events, 
Dr. Seymour B. Young’s ac¬ 
count of the Bear Lake Expedi¬ 
tion is inserted here. 

THE BEAR LAKE 
EXPEDITION 
Seymour B. Young 

On the return of the volun¬ 
teers from the North Platte to 
Fort Bridger July 2nd, 1862, 
preparations were made for a 
general inspection of the lines of 
mail and telegraph stations with 
a view of placing them in perfect 
condition preparatory to our re¬ 
turn home, August 1, 1862, as 
the term of our enlistment ex¬ 
pired on that day. 

However, on the night of the 
3rd of July, five soldiers belong¬ 
ing to the U. S. Cavalry com¬ 
pany stationed at North Platte, 
took it into their heads to de¬ 
sert and, with horses, saddles, 
blankets and side arms they suc- 



CORPORAL 

WM. A. Bringhurst 


ceeded in leaving the camp in the 
dark hours of the night with¬ 
out being discovered. On the 
following morning it was found 
that their tracks pointed in a 
westerly direction. Colonel Col¬ 
lins immediately telegraphed 
Sergeant McNeil, at Fort 
Bridger, informing him of the 
desertion, with the request that 
he watch for and apprehend 
these deserters. When the mes¬ 
sage reached the Fort the Ser¬ 
geant was soundly sleeping, 
from the effects of too much 
Fourth of July; but in the after¬ 
noon he was aroused, the mes¬ 
sage submitted to him, and he 
at once applied to Captain 
Smith for a platoon of men to 
accompany him. Lieutenant 
John Quincy Knowlton with 
a party of nine others of the 
command, were soon in readi¬ 
ness to take up the march. They 
numbered eleven men, includ- 



UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


61 


ing the U. S. Sergeant. Before 
leaving camp, however, Captain 
Smith gave the following in¬ 
structions to Lieut. Knowlton, 
that while he was making all 





Corporal John Hoagland 


necessary efforts to trail and 
capture the deserting troopers 
from Colonel Collins’ com¬ 
mand, he seek to discover the 
location of Chief Washakie who 
was supposed to be camped 
somewhere on the southeast 
shore of Bear Lake, and in¬ 
structions were 1 given to have a 
friendly talk with this chief of 
the Shoshones, and induce him, 
if possible, to call home his 
young Indian warriors and pre¬ 
vent their further participation 
with other hostile Indians, in 
making raids upon the emi¬ 
grant trains, and destroying the 
government mail stations and 
telegraph lines, and by his in¬ 
fluence, for the future, prevent 


the destruction of these lines of 
communication across the con¬ 
tinent, and counsel his young 
men to cease their war upon the 
white people generally. Leaving 
camp about sundown, July 4, 
1862, we took our line of 
march in a northwesterly direc¬ 
tion, and about ten in the even¬ 
ing made our camp for the night 
at Yellow Creek. 

On the following morning 
we resumed our journey, fol¬ 
lowing Yellow Creek to where 
it joins the Bear River. Further 
on we arrived at Smith’s Fork 
of the river, and crossed this 
river on a toll bridge, after rid¬ 
ing through the overflow of the 
stream for several hundred yards 
until we reached the eastern 
terminus of the bridge. After 
paying the mountaineer fifty 
cents for each man and horse, 



Corporal Andrew Bigler 


we were allowed to cross. Ser¬ 
geant McNeil declined to go 





62 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


farther with the party as he had 
learned from Lieut. Knowlton 
that we intended to make the 
circuit of Bear Lake Valley, and 
that meant the swimming of 
Bear River several times, and he 
claiming that he could not swim, 
requested that he be left at the 
bridge at the mountaineer's 
home. When we returned from 
the expedition from Bear Lake 
Valley, he would gladly join 
us and accompany us back to 
Fort Bridger. Lieut. Knowlton 
readily granted the request, and 
the following morning we pro¬ 
ceeded on a westward course 
along the Bear River, and on 
reaching Thomas Fork, another 
tributary of the Bear, we halted 
and made preparation for the 
swimming of this swollen 
mountain stream. We came up¬ 
on a company of immigrants 
on its way to Oregon and the 
Snake River country. These 
people were making a vain at¬ 
tempt to establish a drag line 
with which they expected to 
pull their luggage and wagons 
across the river in a wagon box, 
a very original substitution for 
a ferry boat. We gave them 
what assistance we could. The 
volunteers then proceeded to 
swim with their horses across 
the stream, and on the west 
bank unsaddled, turned their 
horses out to graze, while the 
men dried their clothing in the 
sun and prepared to eat a dinner 
of hard bread and a cup of cold 
water. 

A lone Indian suddenly ap¬ 
peared on a pony at the top 
of the bluff near our encamp¬ 
ment. Lieut. Knowlton made 


signs to him to come down 
to us. He responded, and 
when he arrived in camp we 
found he had been on a hunt 
for game, and that he had suc¬ 
ceeded in killing an antelope, 
which he had lashed behind bis 
saddle. Our interpreter made 
a proposition that he furnish the 
meat for our dinner, and we 
would furnish the bread, and he 
eat with us. Accordingly he 



Corporal Joseph H. Felt 


took the carcass from the saddle 
and delivered it to our cook who 
proceeded to cut and slice from 
the hind quarters and the loin 
of the antelope enough choice 
meat to make a dinner for eleven 
hungry men, the Indian in¬ 
cluded. 

Dinner over we returned the 
balance of the antelope to the 
Indian, saddled our horses, 
mounted and resumed our jour¬ 
ney, advising the Indian to 
pilot us to his encampment. 





UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


63 


This he refused to do, however, 
but a little persuasion with the 
exhibition of a loaded revolver 
convinced him that it would be 
very necessary for the white 
man to have his way. Accord¬ 
ingly we followed him on the 
trail which he pointed out and 
resumed our march till we came 
within the vicinity of the In¬ 
dian camp near the present lo¬ 
cation of the town of Mont¬ 
pelier, Of course, this was a 
barren plain then, with no sign 
of a white man’s habitation 
visible in all the vast expanse 
of Bear Lake Valley. 

Approaching the Indian camp 
we saw a band of warriors 
mounted, swiftly riding what is 
known to plainsmen as “the war 
circle.” As they rode this circle, 



Charles Evans 

Bugler Lot Smith Co. 
we could hear their whoops and 
yells of defiance. We immed¬ 
iately ordered our Indian 
prisoner to ride at the forefront 


of our little troop, and shout to 
his red brothers that the white 
men intended peace, not war. 

As soon as we came within 



Sergeant Ira N. Hinkley 


hearing distance, and seeing one 
of their red brothers in our lead 
making signs of peace they im¬ 
mediately ceased their war circle 
and several of the principal men 
came riding towards us with a 
message that we would be per¬ 
mitted to enter their camp, an 
invitation which we accepted. 
We were conducted to the coun¬ 
cil wigwam as night had already 
set in, to show our fearlessness, 
and to make believe our perfect 
confidence in the Indians, we 
immediately removed saddles, 
bridles and ropes from our 
weary mounts and left them 
free to graze with the Indian 
ponies belonging to the village. 
Then after a hasty bite of sup¬ 
per from our mule packs, we 
spread our blankets in the open 






64 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


and lay down for a few hours 
of much needed rest, but it must 
not be supposed that any of our 
party slept very soundly, for 
they realized that the redmen 
outnumbered our party ten to 
one, and under the blankets 
during the night our hands were 
in close contact with our fire¬ 
arms. 

At break of day we arose and 
adjusted our clothing, ate hasti¬ 
ly a small ration of hard bread, 
sent two of the party out among 
the bands of Indian horses to 
separate and bring in our own. 
In this they were entirely suc¬ 
cessful, and we soon fixed our 
bedding and luggage on our 
pack mules, saddled our horses 
and stood ready for the com¬ 
mand to mount and away; and 
yet we waited for some kind of 
communication from the war 
chief or the leading men, as no 
word had been spoken to us by 
the Indians since we entered the 
camp at sunset the evening be¬ 
fore. 

The silence of the Indians 
seemed to us somewhat omin¬ 
ous, and we began to look 
around for some sign of life 
among them. We soon discov¬ 
ered, however, that we were not 
the only ones awake and alert, 
for several Indians were ob¬ 
served closely watching our 
movements, from behind rocks 
and willows on the outskirts of 
the camp. Lieut. Knowlton 
made a sign, beckoning them to 
approach, and soon three or 
four young warriors with the 
medicine man of the village, 
came. To these the officer gave 
the information that we were on 


our way to see Washakie, and 
he offered two of the young 
men each a shirt, if they would 
accompany us down to the river, 
bringing with them a skin 
lodge. With this we wished 
them to construct a lodge boat 
to ferry our packs across the 
Bear River. The mention of the 
name of Washakie, the great 
chief of all the Shoshones, seem- 



Francis Platt 

Saddler. 


ed to change everything in our 
favor, and now we were quickly 
supplied with the desired help 
for crossing the river. 

Here the Indians showed 
themselves experts in guiding 
the lodge boat from the east 
bank to the left bank, laden 
with our packs and saddles. 
Steering for the west shore we 
immediately swam with our 
horses in the wake of the boat 
across the opposite bank, mak¬ 
ing the crossing in safety with- 



UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


65 


out loss. We paid the two In¬ 
dians the stipulated price; name¬ 
ly: two shirts, thus filling our 
part of the contract, yet the 
Indians were not satisfied; they 
were no doubt hungry for they 



Moroni Woodruff 
Alexander 


demanded bread. The only ra¬ 
tion which we had left con¬ 
sisted of about eight pounds of 
hard bread crumbs; we divided 
these with the Indians and sent 
them away happy. Then we 
saddled our horses, packed our 
mules, and started on an old, 
blind Indian trail leading in a 
southerly direction, taking us 
through the Bear River bottoms, 
now covered with from two to 
four feet of water, the over¬ 
flow of the tributaries of Bear 
Lake. 

On emerging from several 
miles of wading, we reached 
higher ground at a point not 
far from where the city of Paris 


is now located; then we con¬ 
tinued our march to the south 
on the trail leading us through 
a very dense thicket of willows 
as high as the heads of our 
men when mounted on their 
horses. Suddenly we came to 
an opening in this dense willow 
copse, of several hundred yards 
in extent and found ourselves 
in the midst of a band of hostile 
Indians, another company of 
Chief Bear Hunter’s band with 
whom we had camped the night 
before. Within this opening 
was the Indians’ camp, about 
twenty or thirty tepees, and 
nearby was a band of Indian 
ponies grazing. Among the In¬ 
dian horses one of our party 
recognized a fine saddle horse 
belonging to Samuel W. Rich¬ 
ards of Salt Lake City. Know¬ 
ing the high valuation in which 



Thomas H. Harris 

this animal was held by Brother 
Richards, and believing the 








66 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


Indians had come by it dis¬ 
honestly, Lieutenant Knowlton 
ordered Sergeant Spencer to 
rope the animal for the purpose 
of recovering it to the owner; 
then there was something doing. 

A hunched-back Indian rush¬ 
ed to rescue the horse, placed 
his knife against (the rope a 
little way from the neck of the 
animal and was about to sever 
the rope when he was thrown 
to the ground by Spencer, roll¬ 
ing over several times when he 
struck the earth, but not being 
seriously injured, however. He 
regained his feet and rushed 
upon Spencer with his knife 
ready to strike. Spencer grabbed 
the uplifted arm and gripped it 
with such force that the knife 
fell from the Indian's hand. 
The Indian was then thrown 
again with more violence and 
did not return to renew the 
fight but skulked away into the 
willows. Suddenly we saw the 
wikiups deserted, and we heard 
the twang of bow-springs and 
the click of gunlocks from hid¬ 
ing places and secure protection 
in the dense willows behind 
which the Indians skulked. 

Lieutenant Knowlton im¬ 
mediately gave orders for every 
man to dismount and each seek 
a separate path for himself out 
of the ambush, making way to 
open ground in a southerly di¬ 
rection. In this we were suc¬ 
cessful and thus escaped from 
the threatened attack without 
loss or injury of any of our 
party. 

Continuing our march to the 
south we came suddenly to a 
mountain stream known as 


Swan Creek, into which some 
of our boys rode, in an effort 
to make a crossing, but the 
current was so swift that the 
horses -were carried off their 
feet and thrown helpless upon 
the shore from which they en¬ 
tered the stream. 

We then discussed the pro¬ 
priety of going up or down the 
stream in search of more favor¬ 
able crossing places, when 
suddenly there appeared a lone 
Indian, approaching from the 



south, who proved to be friend¬ 
ly. He was from Cache Valley, 
and immediately piloted us on a 
trail leading over a steep moun¬ 
tain spur on around the head 
of the rushing stream, and then 
pointing us to the trail leading 
to Washakie’s camp, left us to 
pursue our journey. About 
sunset we arrived at the camp 
of the Snake Chief, were made 
welcome by him, and after fin¬ 
ishing our small ration of hard 



UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


67 


bread crumbs we rolled in our 
blankets and had a good, peace¬ 
ful, uninterrupted night’s rest. 

On the following morning 
Washakie was informed of our 
attempt to recover the stolen 
horse and he promised us that 
he would send one of his men to 
the belligerent camp in the wil¬ 
lows near Swan Creek, have the 
horse brought to his camp and, 



James Larkins 


if possible, find the Indian who 
stole the horse and have him 
punished. We learned after our 
return from the expedition that 
Washakie had taken the thief 
and given him a very severe 
whipping when he was brought 
into camp with the stolen horse. 
Remaining here the remainder 
of the day Washakie discovered 
that we were without pro¬ 
visions. He brought from his 
wickiup about fifty pounds of 
flour. Laying it on the ground, 
he said as he drew his finger 


across the center of the sack, 
“This part is for you, and this 
part for me and my papooses,’’ 
thus dividing with us equally 
with his own family. 

We immediately set to work 
making and baking bread and 
with plenty of fish, with which 
we were supplied by the In¬ 
dians, we partook of a square 
meal the like of which we had 
not had for two days past. The 
following morning, July 10, we 
left the camp of our friend 
Washakie, taking by his request, 
a near relative who appeared to 
be in the last stages of tuber¬ 
culosis, to give him and his 
squaw safe escort to Fort 
Bridger, where he hoped to be 
benefited by treatment from the 
Post physician. Two young 
Indians accompanied us, bring¬ 
ing with them a new skin lodge 
with which to ferry the sick 
man, his squaw and packs and 
camp outfits, across the Bear 
River. On arriving at the crossr 
ing we assisted the Indians in 
constructing a lodge boat on 
which the invalid and the lug¬ 
gage of our camp was safely 
carried across the river. The 
troopers swam the river with 
their horses. This crossing was 
made without accident or loss 
and immediately our march was 
taken up for headquarters at 
Fort Bridger, where we arrived 
safely on the evening of July 
13th, and the full account of 
the expedition was given by 
Lieut. Knowlton to Captain Lot 
Smith, who had expressed some 
anxiety in the last three days 
for the welfare of the expedi¬ 
tion. When we left camp on 




68 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


the Fouth of July we only car¬ 
ried rations for five days, and, 
of course, Captain Smith, being 
aware of this fact, looked for 
our return at the expiration, or 



Hiram Kimball 


very soon after the five days had 
expired, but he made this re¬ 
mark to comrades in the camp 
who inquired about our ex¬ 
tended absence, that surely some 
one or two of the party would 
get out alive and soon make a 
report of the results of the ex¬ 
pedition. 

Our party brought safely to 
Fort Bridger the poor sick man 
and his squaw who had been 
committed to our care by Chief 
Washakie. Our report con¬ 
cerning our interview and 
threatened collisions with the 
two hostile bands of Indians 
and final safe arrival at Washa¬ 
kie’s camp, his warm friendship 
and acts of kindness to the 
party, with safe conduct of his 


relatives to Fort Bridger, was 
the final report of the expedition 
that left headquarters on the 
Fourth of July, under Lieut. 
Knowlton, for the purpose of 
capturing some deserters from 
Col. Collins’ command on the 
North Platte. The expedition 
so well planned and executed 
was a subject of congratulation 
from our Commander. Al¬ 
though we did not find any 
deserters, we did find Washakie, 
the great Shoshone Chief, and 
on our return trip we picked up 
Sergeant McNeil from the 
bridge at Smith's Fork, and 
brought him safely back to Fort 
Bridger. 

The visit to Washakie, and 
obtaining his counsel and 
friendship, was in strict accord 



Lars Jensen 


with the advice given by Pres¬ 
ident Brigham Young when he 
spoke to the officers and volun¬ 
teers in Emigration Canyon as 





UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


69 


they were leaving Salt Lake City 
to engage in the service of the 
Civil War. 

”Improvement Era” 

HULLINGER’S DIARY 
(■Continued from Page 60) 

Thursday, July 3. The 
morning opened pretty warm 
and windy. The boys returned 
about eleven a. m. The wind 
has been so high that the ferry 
had to stop. The north side 
of the river is crowded with 
immigrants. All is quiet here, 
but there was one fight on the 
river bank. 

Friday, July 4. The morn¬ 
ing opened warm and pleasant. 
It was quiet for July 4. I went 



William A. Terry 

Enlisted in Capt. Lot Smith’s Co. 
as “William Terry.” After his hon¬ 
orable discharge he enlisted in Co. G 
—Second Vol. Cav. of California. 

to work on the ferry boat, but 


we had to stop on account of 
the wind. Between one and 
two hundred wagons arrived on 
the other side of the river today. 
An escort of thirty soldiers came 
with them. 

Saturday, July 5. The 



James Sharp 


morning opened pleasant. Three 
of our boys worked on the boat. 
About noon two of the circuit 
judges called on us for an escort 
to Fort Bridger. It is planned 
to send a guard of eight with 
the judges. News is continually 
coming in of Indian depreda¬ 
tions. The governor appointed 
by President Abraham Lincoln 
is on the other side of the river. 
Expect he will cross tonight. 

Sunday, July 6. The morn¬ 
ing opened pretty clear and 
warm. At about eight a. m. 
the judges' escort started for 
Bridger. I worked on the boat 
until noon. After dinner the 
wind blew so high we could not 






70 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


work. Toward the middle of 
the afternoon the wind slowed 
down and we finished ferrying 
over the train. The immigra¬ 
tion is heavy and more is com¬ 
ing. The mosquitoes were very 
bad. 

Monday, July 7. The morn¬ 
ing opened warm and pleasant. 
I did nothing during the fore¬ 
noon. Afternoon I helped to 
repair the telegraph lines. It is 
disconnected all the way across 
Green River. We took the wire 
across. We put the wire reel 
on the boat and towed it up 
stream until we thought we had 
enough wire to reach across. But 
the wind and current were so 
strong that we could not get 
across. I went over in the boat 
to stretch a line, but failed after 
landing a quarter of a mile be¬ 
low. 

Tuesday, July 8. The morn¬ 
ing was cool and pleasant. It 
was a little cloudy. We went 
to work repairing the telegraph 
line. We finished repairing the 
line, and got back to the ferry 
about twelve o'clock. After 
dinner we went to work on the 
ferry boat. I received $2.50 
for my services. Several of my 
old acquaintances from DeWitt, 
Iowa, passed here for the 
Salmon River country today. 
The river is falling quite fast. 

Wednesday, July 9. The 
morning opened pleasant. It 
got quite hot by noon. There 
was a fight between two im¬ 
migrants today with rocks and 
knives. One of the combatants 
got a cut on the side of his head, 
and the fight stopped. The 


stage came up with a number 
of passengers. I went to work 
on the boat this evening. We 
took over nineteen wagons be¬ 
fore eleven o'clock. 

Thursday, July 10. The 
morning opened clear and pleas¬ 
ant. We loaded up our belong¬ 
ings and prepared to move from 
this place. The immigrants al¬ 
most surrounded us. We moved 
down by the corral. Worked 
on the ferry all afternoon. To¬ 
day is the first day that the 
banks have been cleared of im- 



Reuben P. Miller 

migrant wagons since we came 
here. 

Friday, July 11. The morn¬ 
ing opened clear and pleasant. 
I patched a pair of pants for an 
immigrant for which I received 
fifty cents. I hired a squaw to 
half sole my moccasins. I paid 
her fifty cents for the work. 
There was a high wind until 









UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


71 


about noon. The dust was very 
disagreeable. Ferry operation 
was suspended until evening. 

Saturday, July 12. The 
morning opened pretty warm. I 
purchased two deer skins to 
make a pair of pants. I paid 
$4.50 for them. I cut them out 
and commenced to make them. 
The wind blew hard today as 
usual. The boys returned from 
Fort Bridger. Four of them 
ran the ferry last night. The 



MALIN WEILER 

mail started for Cherokee Trail 
this afternoon. 

Sunday, July 13. The morn¬ 
ing opened pleasant. I had to 
hunt for some time for my colts 
which had strayed or been 
stolen. I did not find them. I 
traveled eight or ten miles 
through sand and sage. The 
wind came up about noon. It 
was a real tornado. There has 
been less immigration today 
than any day since we came. 


Monday, July 14. The morn- 
ning opened warm. I finished 
my deer skin pants today. We 
went fishing and caught three 
fine suckers. 

(Continued on Page 93) 

Here we leave off the diary 
and take up the account written 
by Seymour B. Young, of the 
Snake River Expedition. 

SNAKE RIVER 
EXPEDITION 

Seymour B. Young 

On the night of July 15, 
1862, a small band of Indians 
visited the ranch of Jack Robin¬ 
son, one of the oldest moun¬ 
taineers inhabiting the Bridger 
country, his camp was about six 
miles above the Fort. They 
succeeded in running off up¬ 
wards of three hundred head of 
horses and mules, of which 
number thirty returned on the 
following morning. Captain 
Smith with his command was 
encamped near the old Fort, and 
was notified by Mr. Robert 
Hereford, son-in-law of Jack 
Robinson, of the theft of the 
mountaineers’ animals. Imme¬ 
diately after the bugle call boots 
and saddles were in order, and 
in about three hours’ time sixty 
men, including Mr. Hereford, 
were mounted and ready for the 
chase. There were ten pack 
animals carrying the camp outfit 
and general supplies, with ten 
days’ provisions. The follow¬ 
ing is a list of names of the 
Expedition: 

Captain Lot Smith; First 
Lieutenant J. S. Rawlins; Sec- 




72 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


ond Lieutenant John Quincy 
Knowlton; Wagon Master 
Solomon H. Hale; Sergeants S. 
H. W. Riter, Howard O. 
Spencer; Corporals S. B. Young, 
William Bringhurst, Newton 
Myrick, Andrew Bigler, H. B. 
Clemens; Privates, Joseph God¬ 
dard, Louis A. Huffaker, Jesse 
Cherry, Landon Rich, Tom 
Harris, Wood Alexander, E. D. 
Shurtleff, James Sharp, Tom 
Caldwell, Theodore Calkins, 
John Cahoon, Mark Murphy, 
Joseph Fisher, Alfred Randall, 
Charles Crimson, Jr., Henry 
Bird, William Longstrough, 
William Lutz, William Grant, 
Hiram Kimball, Peter Corina, 
E. A. Noble, Isaac Atkinson, H. 
E. Simmons, Donald McNicol, 
Lewis Osborn, E. M. Weiler, 
Joseph Terry, Charles Burn¬ 
ham, George Cotterell, A. S. 
Rose, Lochoneus Barnard, Ro¬ 
bert Hereford, J. M. Hixson, 
William Rhodes, Hugh D. Park, 
Jimmie Wells (alias Paddy 
Miles Boy), Lars Jensen, James 
Cragun, Edwin Brown, John 
Arrowsmith, Frank Cantwell, 
Moses Gibson, John R. Ben- 
nion, Samuel Bennion, Jimmie 
Larkins, James Green, James 
Imlay, Francis Prince, and Wil¬ 
liam Bess. 

The tracks of the stolen ani¬ 
mals indicated that the Indians 
had taken a northwesterly 
course which the pursuers fol¬ 
lowed, going as far as the 
head of the Snake River 
Valley near the three Te- 
tons, about 135 miles north¬ 
east of Fort Hall. Their first 
ride in the afternoon was thirty- 
five miles to the Muddy, through 


which the company had to 
swim and drag their pack ani¬ 
mals with ropes, submerging the 
packs, provisions and clothing. 
The Indians, in their hasty 
flight, here abandoned two 
ponies and three of the stolen 
colts. 

Second Day; The company 



Francis R. Cantwell 

started at daylight, passed an 
abandoned mule, traveled fifteen 
miles and breakfasted at a small 
spring. Three miles farther they 
crossed Ham’s Fork, where, from 
the tracks of the animals at the 
crossing, the Indians appeared to 
have had great difficulty in keep¬ 
ing together their booty; three 
more colts had been abandoned. 
The company swam, with their 
animals over the Fork and 
traveled seventeen miles before 
dinner. After resting their ani¬ 
mals a couple of hours they re¬ 
sumed their march and made 
thirty-five miles, arriving at 




UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


73 


Fontenelle, a Fork of Green 
River, five miles north of Sub- 
lett’s cutoff. 

Third Day: Started at day¬ 
light, and rode eighteen miles 
before breakfast: traveled twen¬ 
ty-five miles farther: stopped to 
take dinner and rest the animals 
on an island of Green River five 
miles below the Lander road. 
During this ride they found the 
first camping place of the thieves 
since they had left Bridger. Here 
the Indians appeared to be as 
far in advance of the pursuing 
party as at the start from 
Bridger. They having kept thus 
far in advance, suggested to the 
soldiers the necessity of prepara¬ 
tions for a longer expedition 
than was contemplated at start¬ 
ing. Accordingly Captain Smith 
and Lieutenant Knowlton rode 



Wm. Longstrough 

ahead to the Lander Cut Off, 
to a camp of emigrants to obtain 
provisions, but they were un¬ 


successful. The expedition af¬ 
terwards came up and continued 
on fifteen miles before camping 
for the night. In conversing 
with the emigrants it was ascer¬ 
tained that on the Thursday 
previous, the Indians had stolen 
four animals from an emigrant 
train bound for Salmon River. 



Edward A. Noble 

Seven of the emigrants followed 
them and had a fight, resulting 
in one of the white men being 
killed and three wounded. 
Nothing was recovered. On the 
night preceding the arrival of 
the expedition, some Indians at¬ 
tacked an emigrant train, 
wounding one man, stealing a 
horse and some cattle. 

Fourth Day: The expedition 
rested their animals in the 
morning during which time 
Lieutenant Knowlton, Seymour 
B. Young, and Solomon Hale 
returned to the Lander road and 
tried to purchase provisions from 





74 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


another train of eight wagons, 
but could obtain none. The emi¬ 
grants refused to furnish any¬ 
thing, though the boys were 
willing to pay them any price. 
In fact, the attitude of the emi¬ 
grants was anything but com¬ 
plimentary, underlying which 
was something like the suspicion 
that the expedition was prob¬ 
ably connected with the Indians 
who had attacked the immi¬ 
grants previously mentioned. 
Broke camp at noon and march¬ 
ed. thirty-five miles, and camped 
on a small stream near the base 
of the Green River mountains. 
On the way we came upon a 
camp that had suddenly been 
abandoned by the Indians in 
which was found a good deal of 
fat beef, the remnants of five ox¬ 
en; but having apparently been 
too long exposed to the hot sun 
was unfit for use. The Indians 
had evidently been surprised, as 
there were evidences of very sud¬ 
den departure and indications of 
a fight. An immigrant cap was 
found lying on the ground per¬ 
forated with a bullet. 

Fifth Day: Started at day¬ 
light, and traveled twenty-one 
miles, crossing the north fork 
of Green River. Rested two 
hours. Here was another aban¬ 
doned animal. Five miles 
farther, struck the south fork of 
Green River, crossed to the other 
side and traveled thirty miles 
down stream over a fearfully 
rough road. The trail taken by 
the Indians here was over land¬ 
slides, rocks and loose stones, 
some places hundreds of feet 
above the river, where one mis¬ 
step would have sent horse and 


rider precipitately into the 
stream. On this trail the com¬ 
pany found evidences of other 
thefts, such as the tracks of large 
American horses, mules and cat¬ 
tle. This justified the conclusion 
that the original band pursued 
from Bridger, had gathered 
strength in numbers during their 
flight. By taking a direct route 
the red men probably intended 
to mislead the pursuers into the 
belief that the Crow Indians 
had been the aggressors. But 
for this the Indians would cer¬ 
tainly have taken another trail 
than the dangerous one passed 



Wm. C. Allen 


over during the day. The ex¬ 
pedition swam the main fork of 
the river, and camped for the 
night. From the freshness of 
the tracks and the remnants of 
a sage hen the Indians seemed to 
have been not more than six 
hours ahead of the expedition. 




UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


75 


An abandoned white horse was 
found here. 

At the end of the day’s 
march, on the 21st day of July 
a council was called, and offi¬ 
cers and men, all agreed that the 
company was too large and that 
with a smaller allotment of 
men, it was believed they could 
make better progress in pursuit 
of the Indians. On inspection 
it was found that about twenty 
horses were lame, for the reason 
that they were unshod when 
they left the camp at Fort 
Bridger, and their feet had be- 



JOHN ARROWSMITH 


come exceedingly tender and 
sore with the constant contact 
of the gravel and rocks over 
which they had passed during 
the five day’s hasty march. Con¬ 
sequently twenty disabled 
horses, with their riders were 
ordered to return to camp near 
Fort Bridger, their troopers in 
charge of Lieutenant Rawlins, 


there to remain and await 
further orders. 

Sixth Day: This morning 
the smaller division of our com¬ 
mand in charge of Lieutenant 
Rawlins broke camp and after 
bidding goodbye to their com¬ 
rades, who were to continue 
their journey north under Cap¬ 
tain Smith, they began their re¬ 
turn march to the encampment 
near Bridger. The names of re¬ 
turning comrades are as follows: 
Lieutenant Rawlins, command¬ 
ing the party, with Corporal 
Newton Myrick, privates Wil¬ 
liam C. Allen, Joseph Terry, 
Charles Burnham, George Cot- 
terell, Allie S. Rose, James M. 
Hixson, Hugh D. Park, William 
Rhodes, James Cragun, Edwin 
Brown, John Arrowsmith, 
Frank Cantwell, James Green, 
James Imlay, Francis Prince, 
Louis A. Huffaker, Josiah Eard- 
ley and William Bess. 

After starting this portion of 
the company on their return to 
the main body the. command 
traveled ten miles through a 
very rocky, thickly wooded can¬ 
yon and continued eight miles 
farther to one of the tributaries 
of the Snake River. Here was 
found two young colts, two 
mules, and other colts farther 
down the stream, all of which 
had been abandoned by the In¬ 
dians in their hasty flight. These 
mules in possession of the In¬ 
dians had probably been stolen 
from some emigrant company 
for they were not of the 
Bridger stock. 

Seventh Day: That portion 
of the command under Captain 
Smith continued following the 





Upper Falls, Snake River, Near Ashton 

Courtesy of the Union Pacific Railway 









UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


77 


trail of the Indians which led 
over the divide on a chain of 
mountains from which issue the 
head waters of Green River, 
Wind River, and Snake River, 
the Wind River flowing to the 
east from this divide, and the 
Snake River to the west. The 
trail of the Indians turned west¬ 
ward, following the tributaries 
of the Snake River. On the 
24th day of July the trail led us 
through an elevated mountain 
valley, with altitude supposed 
to be between seven and eight 
thousand feet above sea level, 
and through a dense forest of 
beautiful pine timber, remind¬ 
ing us of the celebration of this 
glorious pioneer anniversary 
day in years gone by, 1857, at 
the headwaters of Big Cotton¬ 
wood canyon. From here the 
march was continued, the course 
of the Snake River being fol¬ 
lowed which became larger and 
larger as we struck the lower 
mesas and valleys of the Teton 
range. No halt was made in 
this beautiful glade of timber, 
however, as we were led to be¬ 
lieve from the signs of the trail 
that we were getting closer to 
the Indians, who seemed to be 
crowding their band of stolen 
horses to the limit. They no 
doubt realized that we were 
gaining upon them. At this 
stage of our march our pro¬ 
visions were nearly exhausted, 
and the company was placed on 
less than half rations, but yet we 
pressed on regardless of the 
pangs of hunger that were be¬ 
ginning to be felt, for we were 
in hopes of overtaking and cap¬ 
turing the Indians before they 


reached the crossing at the Big 
Snake River. On the 25th day 
of July we struck the main can¬ 
yon of the Snake River, con¬ 
tinuing on the trail leading us 
in a westerly direction over the 
steep ledges and rocks hundreds 
of feet above the whirling tor¬ 
rent, where one misstep of a 
horse would have sent horse and 
rider into the foaming river a 
thousand feet below. Here the 
trail showed more evidences of 
other thefts by the Indians. 
Tracks of American horses, 
mules and cattle were clearly in¬ 
dicated. Yesterday in passing 



James M. Hixson 
through the beautiful glade of 
timber, reminding us of the 
24th of July celebration, we 
found cut in the bark of a tree 
the name of J. Hardman, sup¬ 
posed to be one of the Lewis 
and Clark expedition. The date 
of his passing on this trail was 
July 1 1, 1833. Some of the 
comrades expressed much satis- 




78 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


faction on beholding the signs 
of white men who had preceded 
the command over this wild 
mountain trail more than thirty 
years before. 

We emerged from the mouth 
of this wild gorge where the 
river turns abruptly to the 
north, while the expedition 
maintained its course in a west¬ 
erly direction, through beauti¬ 
ful glades of timber and meadow 
valleys, in one of which was 
found ripe strawberries. Here 
in this beautiful little glade the 
Indians had taken advantage of 
their opportunity and had wide¬ 
ly scattered their band of stolen 
horses in order to confuse and 
throw their pursuers off the 
trail. 

On entering this valley a halt 
was made, and while the horses 



hastily nipped a few bites of the 
luxuriant grass, the troopers dis¬ 


mounted and ate the straw¬ 
berries. 

“Seymour B. Young had a 
small crust of dry bread, he 
broke it into small bits and 



John H. Standifird 


gave each man a portion, saying 
“Here boys this is the best I 
can do for you.” 

Donald McNicol remarked, 
“I do not mind starving, but I 
would hate to drown.” 

Too soon the orders came to 
mount and march, and then, 
after searching for more than an 
hour, the trail was again dis¬ 
covered and the march was con¬ 
tinued to the east bank of the 
great south fork of the Snake 
river, into which the trail of the 
Indians was found to enter. 
After some consideration by the 
commanding officers the order 
was given for the volunteers to 
prepare to swim the river by re¬ 
moving their clothing and bind¬ 
ing the same to their saddles 











UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


79 


with their belts, and then when 
thus prepared they began their 
struggle to cross this mountain 
torrent some two hundred yards 
in width. 

In this the expedition expe¬ 



rienced much difficulty. The 
Indian trail led over a bar 
formed at the junction of three 
large streams now immensely 
swollen by the melting snows 
from the Tetons. Captain Smith 
led the way, the men following 
in single file, and after much 
difficulty he, with several others 
of the command, succeeded in 
landing on the west bank of 
the river. On looking back 
those who had reached the shore 
safely saw that Donald Mc- 
Nicol’s horse had become un¬ 
manageable, refusing to breast 
the current. He was swept down 
the stream several yards, Mc- 
Nicol apparently trying to 
guide him against the current, 
when suddenly the horse fell in¬ 
to a deep under flow and almost 
instantly disappeared. Mc- 
Nicol, however, was seen to 
come to the surface and was 
swiftly carried with the current 
down the stream beyond all 
human aid. The captain and 


Sergeant Spencer ran down the 
bank of the stream to his as¬ 
sistance, but the/ current was so 
rapid that he was carried quick¬ 
er than their utmost speed, and 
very soon went out of sight. 
Comrade McNicol was one of 
the best swimmers in the com¬ 
pany, but having his clothes, 
boots, and six shooter on his 
person, he was unable to battle 
successfully with the watery 
element and his comrades saw 
him swept out of sight by the 
swift torrent. 

On arriving on the west bank 
of the stream the Adj. called the 
roll and found no answer to 
the names of Comrade Mc¬ 
Nicol, Lieutenant Knowlton 
and Corporal Young, who were 
missing from the ranks. On 



Moses E. Gibson 
inquiry it was learned that the 
two last mentioned missing 
comrades had not been seen since 
the scattering of the force in 
search of the Indian trail, in 








80 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


Strawberry Valley, several hours 
earlier in the day. Captain 
Smith immediately called for 
volunteers to return on the trail 
in search of the missing men. 
Sergeant H. O. Spencer immed¬ 
iately responded, and stated that 
he was willing to return alone 
on the trail in search of the 
missing comrades if Sergeant 
Riter would loan him the use of 
his horse on which to recross the 
river. The reason for this re¬ 
quest was apparent in the fact 
that Comrade Riter’s mount 
was a very fine, large, sorrel 
mare, one of the largest and best 
in the command, and it was 
concluded that this animal 
would be able to face the rush¬ 
ing current of the stream with 
Sergeant Spencer on his back. 
She was a rapid swimmer, swam 
high, and did not wet one so. 
Comrade Riter willingly ac¬ 
cepted the proposition, and on 
this splendid animal Spencer 
succeeded in breasting the swift 
current, and returning to the 
east bank of the stream, from 
whence he retraced the steps of 
the company toward the little 
valley in the timber where the 
two lost comrades were last seen. 
After about four miles of travel 
on the trail he met them and 
gladly piloted them to the cross¬ 
ing of the river, the three fol¬ 
lowing the same direction in 
crossing given by the captain to 
those who preceded them. They 
succeeded in making the west 
bank safely and were warmly 
greeted and welcomed by their 
comrades. Sergeant Spencer was 
cautioned on starting back on 
the trail not to mention the 


drowning of McNicol until the 
arrival of the two on the west 
bank with the rest of the com¬ 
mand. 

“A small raft was launched 
carrying one comrade in an at¬ 
tempt to cross the Snake River, 
a rope was tied to a tree on the 
opposite bank, with which to 
assist the comrade to pull him¬ 
self across. When partly across 
the river the rope broke, the raft 
turned over, throwing the 
soldier boy under water. The 
raft began drifting down 
stream. Captain Lot Smith 
called for volunteers to go to 
the rescue. Moroni W. Alex¬ 
ander volunteered, he sprang in¬ 
to the stream without clothing, 
with a rope tied around his 
waist, he made his way rapidly 
toward the raft as it drifted his 
way. As the raft neared the 
bank of the stream, the brave 
volunteer succeeded in towing it 
to the shore thus saving the life 
of the drowning man. When 
he emerged from the violent 
rushing river his body was torn 
and bruised from head to foot, 
lacerated from the force of the 
rocks striking against him as 
they were carried along with 
the turbulent water. 

He contracted a severe cold 
from this experience and a 
cough developed which remain¬ 
ed with him all his life." 

The Indians at this point 
could not be far in advance of 
the expedition, but there were 
not six horses fit to travel an¬ 
other day at the same rate of 
speed, and the command being 
entirely without rations it was 
concluded that unless the In- 



Shoshone Falls, Snake River 

Courtesy of the Union Pacific Railway 




82 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


dian trail should take a direction 
in which the expedition might 
find means of subsistence, the 
pursuit would have to be aban¬ 
doned. 

On the 26th of July, at 
sunset, all but Donald Mc- 
Nicol had succeeded in crossing 
the Lewis Fork of Snake River 
and after a small ration the boys 
retired for the night by spread¬ 
ing their blankets out in the 
open for they had no tents, the 
guards chosen and set, and a 
quiet night ensued. At 5 a. m., 



Samuel R. Bennion 


on the 27th, camp was called 
and on assembling a proposition 
was made to the men to decide 
what would be best; to still 
pursue the Indians to their 
stronghold and take chances 
with them in a rough and 
tumble fight with men and 
horses fairly jaded from the 
long and furious chase, with 
fire arms wet and rusty; or 
should we withdraw from the 
trail and follow the course of 


the river in quest of game. The 
latter course, promising the best 
results was concluded upon. Mr. 
Hereford, who was more inter¬ 
ested in the recovery of the 
stolen horses than any other, ex¬ 
pressed himself as satisfied with 
the efforts already made and said 
that Captain Smith and his men 
had done all that men should 
be required to do. As we had 
neither rations for men or 
horses, he advised that we leave 
the Indian trail and seek for 
food, and the most direct way 
back to civilization. Accord¬ 
ingly we took our course west¬ 
ward, followed an old trail over 
the divide between Jackson Hole 
and the entrance into the Te¬ 
ton basin. 

Through the beautiful valley 
of Teton we went by slow 
marches, allowing the horses 
frequent grazing opportunities, 
and the men to rest, for strenu¬ 
ous travel was impossible, as 
lack of food was already begin¬ 
ning to tell on the men. 

Early in the day a small 
cinnamon bear was roused from 
his den. Some of the boys 
gave chase and succeeded in 
overtaking him in a dense grove 
of quaking asp, where he was 
soon dispatched and divided 
among the men. A swan and 
a badger were also added to our 
catch during the day. 

When we encamped for the 
night, a few miles west of the 
lower end of the Teton basin, 
the men were refreshed with the 
wild game captured during the 
day and lay down to rest, more 
cheerful and comfortable from 
the partial satisfying of their 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


83 


hunger. Our mess of eight had 
for its portion the skin of the 
badger, which was placed on 
a bed of live coals, when the 
hair and fur were completely 
singed and burned away then 
the bared skin of the beast be¬ 
gan to> sizzle and roast, and by 
this process of roasting the 
thickening of the hide increased 
to at least three-quarters of an 
inch. When thoroughly cooked 
through it was divided between 
the eight men of the mess. John 
R. Bennion had for his portion 
a bear's paw. After devouring 
each his portion, with the rest 
of the party we rolled in our 
blankets and slept for the night. 

In the morning a tarantula 
was found to be sleeping com- 



Ephraim Williams 
fortably between two bunkies, 
Joseph Fisher and Lewis Os¬ 
born. The tarantula had been 
kept comfy and warm and had 
done no harm. 

On the following day we re¬ 


sumed our travel, still in a west¬ 
erly direction, till we struck a 
branch of the Snake River. We 
hoped to be able to cross suc¬ 
cessfully this small stream, and 
then continue south and find the 



Richard Howe 

large river divided into several 
smaller streams, thus enabling 
us to cross these tributaries, 
which would bring us to the 
mouth of the main Snake River, 
where we hoped to continue our 
march through a country well 
supplied with wild game. Ac¬ 
cordingly a number of the com¬ 
mand entered the stream and 
swam with their horses to the 
other shore. Among the first to 
land was Corporal Young and 
Private Charles Crismon, Jr. 
While the first named trooper 
succeeded in landing safely on 
the other side, Crismon’s horse 
seems to have been taken with a 
cramp, or else his feet became 
entangled with the stirrups or 
the lariat attached to the saddle; 





84 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


at any rate he soon became help¬ 
less and sank to the bottom. 

Comrade Crismon immediate¬ 
ly disengaged himself from the 
horse, swam over and joined 
Comrade Young. Crismon not 
only lost his horse but his sad¬ 
dle, bridle and all of his cloth¬ 
ing. The boys gave him a pair 
of overalls and an undershirt. 
On our return to camp the fol¬ 
lowing evening fhe comrades 
made up for him a suit of 
clothes, and he was given one of 



Joseph Goddard 


the pack animals with the pack 
(saddle to ride until a better 
mount could be secured for him. 

On arriving on the island the 
two waited further develop¬ 
ments. Some of the boys con¬ 
structed a small frail raft and 
placing it in the stream near the 
shore three of them who could 
not swim, namely, Jimmie 
Sharp, Joseph Fisher and Joe 
Goddard, embarked on the boat 
and on pushing off from the 


shore they were instructed to lie 
flat on the raft and paddle and 
steer with their hands across to 
the other side, which it was be¬ 
lieved possible for them to do, 
since the current was quite slow 
and the stream not more than 
200 feet wide. But the raft 
was too frail and immediately 
began to sink. Finally the boys 
had to stand on their knees, 
then on their feet, to keep their 
heads above water. By this 
time Captain Smith and Jimmy 
Wells and others had crossed 
over and joined comrades 
Young and Crismon; they eag¬ 
erly watched the three comrades 
on the raft, which was now 
drifting with the current in the 
middle of the river, the boys 
on it unable to guide or help 
to propel it to either shore. Sev¬ 
eral of us ran hastily down the 
bank, following the course of 
the raft till it drifted nearer the 
island, when Jimmie Wells, 
with the loop of a long lariat 
slipped over his right arm 
plunged into the stream and 
swam with the current till he 
overtook the floating raft with 
the boys, slipped his roped arm 
between the poles of the raft and 
shouted, “Pull.” In the mean¬ 
time when Wells entered the 
stream other ropes were added 
to the one he had trailed be¬ 
hind him so that when he 
shouted to them on the shore to 
pull, the comrades on the frail 
raft were soon safely landed. 

After this very exciting ex¬ 
perience, several of the comrades 
explored further to the south 
limit of the island. Then it 
was discovered that the big 




Grand Canyon of the Snake River, West of Minidoka 

Courtesy of the Union Pacific R. W. 





86 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


Snake River, swollen as it was 
from the melting snows of the 
Teton range, would present an 
obstacle probably insurmount¬ 
able in the way of their pro¬ 
gress in that direction. It was 
therefore concluded that the 
swimmers of the morning 
should recross to the mainland, 
one of them carrying a line at¬ 
tached to the raft across to the 
main shore. The same three 
comrades were placed again up¬ 
on the frail boat, but this time 
they were drawn speedily and 
safely to the shore without de¬ 
lay or accident, landing near the 
same point from which they 
had embarked earlier in the day. 
Here camp was established for 
the night, and camp fires plenti¬ 
fully provided that the men 
might stand around them and 
dry their wet clothing. Later 
in the afternoon comrade Joseph 
A. Fisher approached the com¬ 
mander and after saluting said, 
“Captain Smith, this is my 21st 
birthday,^ (July 28), and I 
would like to have a birthday 
dinner.” The captain replied: 
“We’ll do the best we can for 
you, Joe.” Accordingly a shank 
bone of the bear was fished out 
of the pack and placed in the 
camp kettle half full of water, 
and hung over the fire. Comrade 
Hale brought out a flour sack 
that had once contained flour 
and, turning it inside out, it was 
found that in mixing dough in 
the sack, some of the dough had 
adhered to the inside of the sack, 
and this was scraped off and 
added to the kettle of soup! 
What with the scraping of the 
flour sack and some frogs’ legs 


added by comrade Hale, a kettle 
of broth without salt or season¬ 
ing of any kind was produced. 
Comrade Fisher records that this 
broth of thin soup was all 
there was to satisfy the appetites 
of 40 hungry men. 

The following day, July 29, 
we marched fifteen miles to the 
south fork of the Snake River, 
secured some dry quaking asp 
logs, constructed a raft and Cap¬ 
tain Smith, H. O. Spencer, An¬ 
drew Bigler, S. B. Young, Peter 



James Cragun 


Cornia, James Sharp and Tom 
Caldwell with the baggage of 
their mess, succeeded in crossing 
the river. 

On reaching the opposite 
bank most of the boys succeeded 
in grasping the limbs of a cot¬ 
tonwood tree which had fallen 
on the edge of the stream. It 
was designed to pull the raft 
ashore and fix it with ropes for 
the ferrying over of the balance 



UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


87 


of the company, but the current 
was too strong, so that the raft 
was swept from under them all; 
one of the comrades succeeded, 
however, in reaching the shore 
safely by the aid of the limb of 
a tree to which he clung. Cap- 



Samuel Hill 


tain Smith, seeing Caldwell still 
on the raft and being carried 
swiftly down the river, plunged 
into the stream and swam until 
he overtook the raft, climbed on 
it, and with comrade Caldwell 
continued down the swift cur¬ 
rent of the stream for more than 
a mile. It was now near the 
main encampment where it 
lodged on the point of an island. 
Here William Longstrough 
swam with a long rope from the 
shore to the rescue of the two 
men on the raft. Making fast 
the rope to the raft the three 
men were soon hauled safely to 
shore, with the loss, however, of 
two saddles, some cooking uten¬ 
sils and clothing. 


The five comrades, namely, 
Bigler, Cornia, Young, Sharp 
and Spencer, who had succeeded 
in landing upon the island when 
the raft got away, found them¬ 
selves without clothes. They 
suffered intensely from bites of 
the clouds of mosquitos that 
seemed to envelop them. Two 
of the comrades rebelled against 
this terrible mosquito scourge, 
and determined to swim that 
night to the opposite shore to 
obtain their clothing and be 
with their comrades in camp 
through the night. These two 
were Bigler and Cornia, who 
made their way through brush 
and bramble several hundred 
yards up the stream where they 
secured a dry quaking asp log 
and succeeded with it in cross- 



Joseph Terry 


ing safely against this mountain 
torrent. 

The other three who remain¬ 
ed on the island, namely, Spen¬ 
cer, Young and Sharp, endured 





88 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


as best they could the bites of 
the hungry insects through the 
long, weary night, naked as they 
were, with no defense against 
the fierce onslaught of the mil¬ 
lions of mosquitos. 

At daybreak in the morning, 
however, the three comrades fol¬ 
lowed the trail of those who 
had crossed the night before, 
going up the stream several 
hundred yards and there secur¬ 
ing a dry quaking asp log, and 
pushing it into the stream, and 
by its help were enabled to 



Wm. H. Rhodes 


reach the shore from which they 
started on their perilous voyage 
the day previous. They were 
warmly greeted and welcomed 
by the captain and comrades in 
their camp a mile farther down 
the river. 

It was determined at this 
point that the command make 
no further efforts to recross the 
south fork of the Snake River, 


as two attempts had already 
failed, in both instances nearly 
costing precious lives. After 
these escapades the following 
day, the 30th, we continued 
our course westward along the 
course of the river, but owing to 
the condition of the men, on 
whom the want of food was 
beginning to tell seriously, the 
company halted soon after 
noon, and our wagon master, 
Comrade Sol Hale, was com¬ 
missioned to interview Cap¬ 
tain Smith and obtain permis¬ 
sion from him to kill one of 
the horses and divide it among 
the men, this to relieve hunger 
and to husband what little 
strength remained. 

Captain Smith consented and 
requested Comrade Hale to se¬ 
lect one of the animals and 
shoot it and see it properly pre¬ 
pared and delivered to the dif¬ 
ferent messes according to their 
number. The horse was accord¬ 
ingly selected, tethered to a sage 
brush, and comrade Hale walk¬ 
ed to within ten or twelve paces 
of the animal, leveled his six- 
shooter and took deadly aim at 
the doomed animal. We all 
stood by expecting to hear the 
report of the gun, and to see 
the poor old faithful beast drop 
dead, but Comrade Hale did not 
fire. All of a sudden he dropped 
his hand which held the gun 
by his side and said, tears blind¬ 
ing his eyes: “Darned if I can 
shoot the poor old horse.” Then 
another trooper, Jimmie Lar¬ 
kins, was selected to do the kill¬ 
ing. The horse was soon dis¬ 
patched and divided and each 
man began to roast and eat his 



UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


89 


portion, while the cooks en¬ 
gaged in boiling the larger and 
more bony portions for a more 
substantial meal. It was ob¬ 
served that Captain Smith was 
not eating. A comrade secured 
a piece of seemingly healthy 
liver and after carefully roasting 
it over the fire, the Captain was 
induced to eat a portion of it. 
The comrade also made his sup¬ 
per of the roasted liver, not 
being able to eat the boiled 
meat, prepared as it was with¬ 
out seasoning of any kind. The 
fresh smell, coupled with the 
strong odor of the horse, was 
sufficient to prevent any desire 
for the horse flesh that night, 
but the following day hunger 
ovvercame every other consider- 



Albert Davis 


ation, and a heavy meal was 
made of the boiled horse flesh. 

On July 31 we reached the 
north fork of the Snake River, 
at a point near the two buttes, 
about seven miles west of where 


Rexburg is now located. Here 
the remains of the slaughtered 
horse were devoured and the 
boys worked vigorously hauling 
with their saddle horses dry 
logs from a little clump of trees 



Emerson D. Shurtleff 

several miles away with which 
to construct a raft. The follow¬ 
ing morning, the 1st day of 
August, Mr. Hereford superin¬ 
tended the construction of a 
substantial raft, binding the 
timbers firmly together with 
thongs of rawhide, cut from the 
hide of the slaughtered horse, 
and with the raft the men who 
could not swim, and the bag¬ 
gage of the company, were safe¬ 
ly ferried to the other side of the 
stream. Though very deep at 
this point and at least 30 rods 
wide, the current being sluggish, 
enabled the remainder of the 
men to swim over with their 
horses without difficulty. They 
then crossed over a very swampy 



90 


U'l'AH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


piece of ground which was 
bridged with willows, the men 
carrying the baggage and their 
saddles across this willow bridge 
because the horses had all they 
could do to wallow through the 



Hyrum B. North 


mire without anything to carry. 
Soon after crossing this swamp, 
a small branch of the river was 
encountered and successfully 
crossed, and the company safe¬ 
ly landed on high ground near 
the foot of the two buttes men¬ 
tioned above. 

On August 2, the company 
marched twelve miles and halted 
to allow the animals to graze 
and rest. At this point Cap¬ 
tain Smith and Corporal Young 
rode in advance for the purpose 
of finding and intercepting any 
company of emigrants that 
might be traveling to the north. 
After riding about fifteen miles 
a small camp of about eight 
wagons was overtaken on the 


road leading toward some new¬ 
ly discovered mines in the 
northern part of Idaho. They 
were camped for their midday 
meal. 

After much solicitation they 
reluctantly furnished us a hun¬ 
dred pounds of flour and a side 
of bacon, asking a very high 
price. The men stated that a 
few days before Indians had at¬ 
tacked their camp and killed one 
of their men and run off one of 
their horses and five of their cat¬ 
tle. Captain Smith gave up his 
horse to Corporal Young, the 
corporal using his mount 
and saddle on which to pack 
the flour and bacon. When 
the pack was made up and 



James Green 


thoroughly lashed. Young 
mounted the Captain’s horse in 
obedience to the captain’s orders 
and drove the pack animal 
swiftly on the way to meet the 
approaching column of famish- 





UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


91 


ed and hungry men. Captain 
Smith was left to the tender 
mercies of the emigrants, who 
had threatened when we first en¬ 
tered their camp, that they 
would hang each of us to the 
end of a wagon tongue. We 
explained to them the fact that 
we were members of a command 
of Utah volunteers of the 
United States army, and also 
the fact that about forty men 
belonging to said company were 
a few miles in the rear and very 



Charles Carroll Burnham 


much in need of something to 
eat, and should any harm come 
to us vengeance might be taken 
on those who did the injury. 
After this their venom seemed 
all to have passed away, and 
the provisions were furnished 
as above stated. The captain 
marched along near the train, 
both coming up with the camp 
of volunteers about dark that 
evening, at which time we had 


established our camp and were 
engaged in the baking of bread 
and frying of bacon, to satisfy 
the hungry men. 

When the emigrant train had 
gone into camp near the volun¬ 
teers they seemed desirous of 
showing, in every way possible, 
their regret for the threats made 
to hang Captain Smith and his 
comrade. They furnished two 
large camp kettles with soup 
bones and plenty of fresh beef, 
also salt and pepper for season¬ 
ing. From these ingredients two 
brimming kettles of soup, with 
dumplings, were being ladled 
out to the men, and the feast of 
this delicious supply lasted till 
midnight. From this time on, 
till our arrival home there was 
no want of food. The follow¬ 
ing day the command marched 
twelve miles to the outlet of the 
Snake River which supplies 
Market Lake. Here we camped 
and rested, till the following 
morning at day break when we 
mounted horses and swam the 
outlet of the lake, and with 
ropes attached to the pack ani¬ 
mals assisted them to cross 
the stream by dragging them 
through it, part of the time 
under water, with their packs. 
—"At this point of the expedi¬ 
tion a willow basket was made 
for Lars Jensen, who being very 
weak, was snaked across the 
river in a basket with a rope 
tied to the horse’s tail.” 

From this crossing we made 
our way twenty-two miles in a 
southwesterly direction, when 
we reached the point on the 
Snake River called Eagle Rock, 
where a ferry had been estab- 




92 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


lished by the Barnard Brothers 
from Boxelder County, Utah. 
After crossing on the Barnard 
ferry boat Captain Smith pur¬ 
chased of the ferry men several 



Harlon'E. Simmons 

sacks of flour and a dressed beef. 
—Lot Smith gave an order on 
the United States Government 
for the supplies. 

“Those in charge asked Lot 
Smith, “What shall we do if 
the government does not honor 
this order?” 

Lot Smith replied “You can 
hang me to the nearest tree if 
the United States government 
does not honor that order!” 

In due time the money was 
received.” 

At this point we obtained 
from Mr. Barnard a couple of 
wagons and some harness, and 
hitching our pack, by slow and 
easy stages, by way of Fort Hall 
continued our march past the 


trappers’ lodge, where Pocatello 
now is located, to the Portland 
River. Some time after we ar¬ 
rived at the present site of Me 
Cammon. We reached Soda 
Springs the second night from 
the ferry. 

The following day we re¬ 
sumed our march down the 
Bear River as far as the north 
end of Cache valley, and on 
reaching the little hamlet of 
Clifton entered the defile of this 
mountain stream and followed 
it over the divide into Malad 
Valley. The next day we con¬ 
tinued our march thirty-five 
miles to the Bear River bridge, 
owned by Ben Hampton, over 
which we crossed without diffi¬ 
culty, by paying the stipulated 



Adelbert Rice 


price for men, horses and wag¬ 
ons. The next day we reached 
Brigham City, and the follow¬ 
ing evening camped a few miles 
north of Ogden, and in the af- 






UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


93 


ternoon, Aug. 15, about 4 
o’clock, we rode into Salt Lake 
City, where we were warmly 
welcomed by President Brigham 
Young, General Wells, and the 
populace.— Improvement Era. 

Charles Crismon, Jr., arrived 
at the home of his sister, Mrs. 
Samanthy Chase, Harrisville, 
north of Ogden. When she 
saw him looking so pale and 
thin, and so poorly clad, she sat 
down and cried. 

Young Crismon was so hun- 



Parley P. Draper 

After whom "Draper” was named, 
gry and fatigued that all he 
could say was, “Samanthy don’t 
cry, make us some hot biscuits.’’ 

Charles Crismon, Jr., was the 
only man of the company who 
entered Salt Lake City with a 
good suit of clothes. These had 
been given him by an emigrant 
at the solicitation of Solomon 
H. Hale. You will remember 
that Crismon’s clothes were lost 
in the Snake River. 


Joseph A. Fisher relates how 
he arrived home with an old 
battered hat, hickory shirt, 
mostly in shreds, a pair of moc¬ 
casins, obtained at a trading 
post, and the linings of a pair 
of trousers. At one part of the 
journey he was without a dry 
stitch of clothing day or night 
for three weeks; his comrades 
suffered the same exposure with 
him. 

HULLINGER’S DIARY 
(Continued from Page 71) 

Wednesday, July 16. The 
morning was pleasant. There 
was not much immigration to¬ 
day. Louis Hills passed us dur¬ 
ing the day. The evening was 
pleasant. 

Thursday, July 17. The 
morning was stormy. Some 
rain fell. I hunted again for 
my colts round about twenty 
miles, but did not find them. 
There was wind and rain about 
noon. 

Friday, July 18. The morn¬ 
ing was fine. A small train of 
wagons passed us. Rained and 
hailed some this afternoon. 
Brother Polmantur came back. 
He had been out looking for 
the lost horses. 

Saturday, July 19. The 
morning was fine. Several of 
the boys saddled up and went 
to look for some Indians who 
had been seen last night. It 
proved to be an old blue blan¬ 
ket instead. 

Sunday, July 20. The morn¬ 
ing was rather cloudy. It was 
rainy the forepart of the day. 
The wind ceased blowing in the 


94 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


afternoon, and it turned out 
quite nice. We had bean soup 
for dinner. It was quite cloudy 
in the north and northwest, but 
the day closed quite nice. 




Leander Lemmon 

Monday, July 21. It was a 
fine morning. A train of im¬ 
migrants passed today. We had 
soup and apples for dinner to¬ 
day. The boys went fishing 
and caught one fish. It clouded 
up in the afternoon and rained 
a little. 

Tuesday, July 22. The 
mornning was clear and warm. 
We hitched up about eight a. 
m. and started for Fort Bridger. 
We got to Ham's Fork about 
two p. m. Took dinner and 
hitched up and moved about fif¬ 
teen miles and camped near the 
cemetery at Ham's Fork. 

Wednesday, July 23. The 
morning was clear and pleasant. 
We hitched up and arrived at 


Bridger about noon. We found 
all the boys we had left there 
well, Captain Smith having 
gone with a detachment after a 
band of Indian thieves. 

Thursday, July 24. The 
morning was clear and cool. A 
number of rockets were fired in 
honor of the day, commemorat¬ 
ing the entrance of the Pioneers 
into the valley of the Great Salt 
Lake. 

Friday, July 25. It was an¬ 
other clear, cool morning. Cor¬ 
porals Neff, Atwood and myself 
brought water to camp. I went 
fishing and caught a small 
trout. The commissary killed a 
beef tonight. The wind has 
been blowing almost all day. 



Hugh D. Park 


The flies were quite bad. The 
evening was fine. 

Saturday, July 26. It was 
another clear, beautiful day. I 






UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 95 


went down to the fort, for I had 
a dollar tip given to me. 

Sunday, July 21 . The morn¬ 
ing opened clear and warm. The 
nights have been quite cool 
while we have been here. It 
rained a little today. No signs 
of Captain Smith yet. It was a 
pleasant fine evening. I was 
called upon to lead in prayer. 

Monday, July 28. It was a 
fine morning. Nothing of im- 



Joseph J. Taylor 

portance happened during the 
day. 

Tuesday, July 29. It was a 
fine morning. Water fine. We 
found ripe berries. I was sum¬ 
moned to go home. 

Wednesday, July 30. I start¬ 
ed for home at about eight a. 
m. I stopped for noon at Bear 
River and camped at night at 
the head of Echo. 

Thursday, July 31.1 moved 
on my way. Stopped for noon 


at Elk Creek. Stayed all night 
at Lonely Bridge. 

Friday, August 1. Arrived 
home in the afternoon and 
found all well. Sat around a 
second. I went to Salt Lake 
City, and then out west to meet 
the boys who were coming from 
Fort Bridger. After meeting 
them, we were dismissed on pa¬ 
role until Thursday, August 8. 
We went to the city and were 
paroled for one week longer. A 
detachment of ten men were 
sent out to look for Captain Lot 
Smith. (Captain Smith was 
found and escorted to the city, 
where the company was mus¬ 
tered out of service.) 

Thus ends the only diary that 
was kept during the expedition, 
in the Lot Smith Company. 

Col. Robert T. Burton wrote 
a daily account of incidents con¬ 
nected with the Burton Com¬ 
pany. 

EXCERPTS FROM THE 
“DESERET NEWS” 

Salt Lake City, Utah 

Saturday, August 9, 1862— 
Forty-three of Captain Lot 
Smith’s command returned to 
Salt Lake City about noon. 
They had pursued the Indians 
who stole horses from Robin¬ 
son’s Ranch (a ranch near Ft. 
Bridger) on Green River, as far 
as Snake River, having found 
their trail; but as their pro¬ 
visions gave out and also their 
animals, they had to return. 
They were eight days without 
provisions. Donald McNicol, 
one of the party, was accident- 



96 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


ally drowned in the Snake 
River. 

Thursday, August 7, 1862. 
A portion of Lot Smith’s com¬ 
mand were called together from 
which a number were picked out 
to go with Lot Smith to the 
mountains after the Indians. 

Dec. 20, 1862. Mark 

Murphy was buried. President 
Young and Elder Lorenzo 
Snow attended his funeral serv¬ 
ice. President Young preached. 
(Doc. History, 1063.) (Death 
was due to exposure and hard¬ 
ships endured while out in Gov¬ 
ernment Service under Capt. Lot 
Smith.) 

OFFICIAL DISCHARGE 
“Lot Smith Command’’ 

“I certify on honor, that I 
have at Great Salt Lake City, 
Utah Territory, on this 14th 
day of August, 1862, carefully 
examined this roll and mustered 
the company for discharge; and 
it is hereby honorably discharg¬ 
ed from the service of the Unit¬ 
ed States. 

(Signed) H. B. Clawson, 
Adj. Gen. Ut. Ter. 

Mustering Officer. 

STORY BY LOUIS A. 
HUFFAKER 

I was just twenty-one when 
I volunteered at the call of 
Abraham Lincoln to keep open 
the line of communication be¬ 
tween San Francisco and 
Omaha. Father was well to 
do and could furnish equipment 
for his sons at any time; there¬ 


fore I was always ready to go 
to protect the people against the 
Indians. When we were at Fort 
Bridger, Gen. James Craig with 
three or four hundred regulars 
lay encamped there. 

Col. Collins approached Cap¬ 
tain Smith one day and said, 
Captain Smith I would like to 
try a test and see whether your 
men or mine are best adapted to 



Landon Rich 

remain here in the West to pro¬ 
tect the mail line. 

Colonel Collins ordered a de¬ 
tachment of his men, double 
quick time up the side of a 
mountain and down again. The 
Eastern soldiers were unac¬ 
quainted with Western life. 
They went up and came down 
in great confusion. The Lot 
Smith men came down in per¬ 
fect order; we were used to just 
such places, we gave our Indian 
ponies the reins, and the horses 




UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


97 


of themselves avoided the sage 
brush and gopher holes. 

Col. Collins remarked, “Cap¬ 
tain Smith, I would rather have 
ten of your men than my whole 
regiment. We will send the 
Eastern men to the front." 
When his men heard that they 
were to be sent back to the 
front, a number of them de¬ 
serted and made their way to¬ 
wards the Pacific Coast. 



Edward F. M. Guest 

During the Snake River ex¬ 
pedition, twenty horses gave out 
because of the strenuous pursuit 
after Indians. Lot Smith com¬ 
manded Lieutenant Joseph S. 
Rawlins to return to Fort 
Bridger with the twenty horses 
and their riders. 

Louis A. Huffaker was with 
those who returned to Fort 
Bridger, whose horse had given 
out; Lieutenant Joseph S. 
Rawlins command. As we were 
returning the company decided 


they were lost. In telling of 
the incident, Louis A. Huffaker 
says, “The animal which I rode 
was a large, flat-footed horse 
who had been in the mountains 
with me for years. I could trust 
him to find his way. I gave 
him the reins and he imme¬ 
diately diverged from the path 
which we were taking. He went 
on for some time until I was 
finally overtaken by several of 
the company who declared they 
had orders from Lieutenant 
Rawlins to tell me that I was 
lost pnd must return to the 
company with them. That if 
I would not go willingly they 
were to bind and carry me back 
by force. I felt that the direc¬ 
tion I was taking was the cor¬ 
rect one and begged them to go 
on with me to the next clearing 
where we would doubtless dis¬ 
cover our location. They com¬ 
plied with my request as it was 
not yet dusk. They followed 
me until we came to a clump of 
large, dry Cottonwood trees. 

We recognized this place as 
the spot where we had previous¬ 
ly camped. Here we discovered 
the remains of the beef the In¬ 
dians, which we were pursuing, 
had so hastily abandoned. I 
rested on my saddle until my 
comrades returned, piloting the 
others to me. After this we 
progressed nicely and soon ar¬ 
rived at Fort Bridger. 

One later afternoon while off 
duty, I was enjoying myself 
jumping and turning hand¬ 
springs, when Lieut. Rawlins 
suddenly called to me and said, 
“Here, Huffaker, guard this pris¬ 
oner until I return. I will be 



98 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


back in a few minutes. He gave 
me a gun cocked. “If he turns 
over in his bed, kill him. He is 
an escaped prisoner/’ he said. 

I was perspiring freely from 



Peter Cornia 

my previous exertions, without 
coat or hat. The sun went down 
presently and it became very 
cold. It was one o’clock that 
night when Lieutenant Rawlins 
came back to relieve me. You 
can imagine the cold I caught. 

After our release. Lieutenant 
Rawlins and I returned to Salt 
Lake City in .company with 
each other. He was a large man. 
His horse gave out. He could 
not endure to walk. I walked 
and allowed him to ride my 
horse. Lieutenant Rawlins 
thanked me and said, “If it had 
not been for you, my bones 
would have bleached upon the 
plains.’’ 

One day, Sol Hale, a big, 
strapping giant, went up to 


Captain Smith and said, “I’ll 
bet you $5.00 I can throw you 
in the river, Captain. But you’ve 
got to give me three trials. The 
Captain sized Sol Hale up a mo¬ 
ment and said, “Do you suppose 
I want to get thrown in the 
river three times, S o 1 o m a n 
Hale?’’ 

When the Lot Smith Com¬ 
pany met the regular army near 
Fort Bridger we were given a 
portion of the liquor in their 
possession. We remembered the 
injunction of Brigham Young 
to leave liquor alone. We re¬ 
moved the corks from the bar¬ 
rels and allowed the liquor to 
run out on the ground. Col. 
Collins coming up and seeing 
what had taken place was much 
astonished. He said to Lot 



Wm. Henry Bess 

Smith, “Aren't you a drinking 
man?” 

Lot Smith said, “No, Sir.” 
Col. Collins exclaimed, 






UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


99 


“Then take down your sign." 

Told by several of the com¬ 
rades who explained that Lot 
Smith was of a sandy com¬ 
plexion with a florid face and 
somewhat red nose. 

* * * 

Related by Charles Crismon, Jr . 

At the mouth of Emigration 
Canyon, just east of Salt Lake 
City, President Brigham Young 
met with the Utah Volunteers, 
to bid them God-speed and give 
them a last word of counsel. 

After cautioning them about 
abstaining from the use of 
liquor and profanity, he said, 
“When you are offered the 
United States uniform, do not 
wear it.” 

We were given the Soldier's 
uniform by Gen. Craig at Fort 
Bridger, but still wore the cloth¬ 
ing that we used when we 
equipped ourselves at Salt Lake 
City. 

Years after the Civil War 
expedition. I met some of the 
Washakie Indians. They told 
me that at one time our men 
were totally surrounded by 
them in ambush. If they had 
thought we were U. S. soldiers 
and had seen us in the national 
uniforms, we would have all 
been killed. The fact that we 
wore the clothing of the “Mor¬ 
mon" settlers, saved us. 

LOT SMITH AND 
BUFFALO BILL 
C William Cody ) 

(In Wyoming when the 
Company were out) 

One day they were testing 
their horsemanship and their 


skill with the lariat. Buffalo 
Bill first tested his deftness. He 
sat on his horse mounted in the 
saddle. The horse he was to 
lasso was put to a run. Bill 
threw the rope and caught the 
running horse around the neck 
and held him with the assistance 
of the horn of his saddle. 

Lot Smith cried, “I can do 
better than that." 

He stood on the ground, sent 




Wm. S. Grant 


out the rope and caught the run¬ 
ning horse with the loop in the 
rope by one of the feet. There 
was a knot at the end of the 
rope that Lot Smith held; drop¬ 
ping the rope to the ground, he 
placed his foot on the knot and 
held the horse secure. 

Buffalo Bill said that was the 
best he had ever seen. 

Louis A. Huffaker, an eye 
witness of the incident. 




100 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


PACIFIC SPRINGS STA¬ 
TION WHERE THE 
WATER DIVIDES 
AT THE SOUTH 
PASS 

During the night there was 
sleet and rain and a high wind, 
tearing down every tent but one. 
The tent of Isaac Atkinson was 
the only one that remained. 

The gale was so fierce that 
nothing could be done to put 
the tents up again; the men were 
forced to spend the rest of the 
night huddled under the canvas 
coverings, securing what protec¬ 
tion they could from the storm, 
by holding to the tent with 
their hands. 

Peter Cornia’s horse did not 
have a hair left on his mane or 
tail in the morning. One horse 
was found dead. That morn¬ 
ing the wind ceased, the sun rose 
in all its splendor, giving prom¬ 
ise of a beautiful day. Ike and 
his comrades cheered the hearts 
of their companions by invit¬ 
ing them into their one remain¬ 
ing tent and serving them with 
a fine hot breakfast. 

Isaac Atkinson, Commander 
J. Q. Knowlton Post. 

STAMPEDE 

(As told by Private Isaac 
Atkinson ) 

“Just before coming to the 
Devil's Gate, we stopped on a 
nice grassy plot to rest. Our 
band of about fifty horses was 
turned loose to feed. Their sad¬ 
dles not being removed, one 
horse lay down to roll. While 


doing so, part of the saddle, the 
machers, flew up in the air and 
so frightened the animal that he 
jumped up and ran wild, 
frightening the other horses into 
a stampede. The soldiers were 
put to a great deal of trouble 
rounding up the horses. Some 
of the men had to go as far as 
five miles to recover them." 

BEARS 

(As related by Private Isaac 
Atkinson ) 

“After building the station 
and corral at the ‘Devil’s Gate,’ 
the Company turned westward, 
following and protecting the 
Stage and Telegraph Line. Lot 
Smith was in command. When 



Powell Johnson 


we reached Green River, we 
halted. On the opposite bank 
was a large brown bear and her 
cub. Lot Smith started in pur- 




UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


101 


suit, swimming his horse across 
the river. The bear scented 
danger and ran for cover to¬ 
wards some willows. Seeing 
that Lot was going to overtake 
her, she turned on him and in 
the encounter caught the horse 
by the tail with her forepaws, 
holding him so securely he could 
not get away. 

“Lot turned in his saddle to¬ 
ward the bear, using his gun 
in an effort to beat the savage 



Edwin Brown 

female off. She let go and made 
for the willows again. 

“Lot Smith overtook her the 
second time. The bear whirled 
around and caught hold of the 
stirrup. He fired, wounding 
her, and in a few moments the 
unfortunate animal rolled over 
and died. Lot then disposed of 
the cub. The dead bodies of 
the two bears were floated across 
the river and pulled out on the 


opposite side. The men dried 
(jerked) the meat of the little 
bear to use for food and skinned 
the large bear and kept the 
hide." 

LOT SMITH, HORSEMAN 

Captain Lot Smith came into 
possession of his favorite horse. 
Stonewall, about 1865. The 
horse was a wild, untamed crea¬ 
ture, which accounts for the fact 
that he was named after the 
famous Southern General. 

He formerly belonged to 
Brigham Young. The animal 
was a beauty, steel grey, with 
small head and arched neck. One 
could plainly see that he was of 
Arabian blood. People thought 
he was vicious but he only lack¬ 
ed breaking. 

Captain Smith called on Pres. 
Brigham Young and requested 
the privilege of breaking the 
animal, which was one of six 
matched horses. 

President Young said, “No, 
Lot, I think too much of you 
to allow you to risk your life 
in that manner." 

Nevertheless, Lot Smith per¬ 
sisted in his request until Pres. 
Young sent two men to bring 
the horse out. 

Exclaiming, “Pres. Young, I 
can break that horse very nice¬ 
ly!" he took Stonewall and de¬ 
parted. 

A few days subsequent, Lot 
Smith returned, mounted on 
Stonewall and demonstrated to 
President Young how complete¬ 
ly the horse had been broken. 
Captain Smith alighted, seized 
the horse by the hind legs. 





102 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


raised him up and down in 
wheelbarrow fashion, crawled 
between his legs, walked under 
him, made him lie down, sat 
upon him and then walked 
across him. The horse did not 
appear to notice the maneuvers. 

Then Captain Lot Smith 
bade President Young goodbye 
and started to go, but the horse 
persisted in following him. The 
Captain finallly was compelled 
to come back in order to get 
Stonewall to return. When they 



Wm. Lynch 

returned to where President 
Young was standing, the Pres¬ 
ident said, “Lot, because you 
broke that horse in such a won¬ 
derful manner, I will make you 
a present of him.” 

Let Smith rode Stonewall for 
years and grew to love him as 
he never loved any other animal. 
It was a familiar sight among 
the people to see Captain Smith 
on his beautiful horse. He was 


a splendid horseman and made a 
yery imposing appearance when 
mounted in his saddle. 

Years previous to this Capt. 
Smith while on a skirmish with 
the Indians, met Col. Robert T. 
Burton, who was engaged in the 
same expedition, commanding 
another Company. The two 
men became fast friends, and 
their friendship grew with the 
years. Later, Lot Smith pre¬ 
sented his “favorite” to his old 
“pal” Robert T. Burton. 

It has long been the desire of 
Lot Smith’s comrades to see 
wrought in bronze, an eques¬ 
trian statue of Captain Lot 
Smith mounted on his favorite 
horse. Stonewall .—William S. 
Burton. 

TALE OF THE BUCK¬ 
SKIN PANTS 

(A story growing out of the 
expedition, by Margaret M. 

Fisher ) 

The sun was hot and tanned 
the faces of two youthful vol¬ 
unteers who were conversing as 
they strolled near camp. 

With a glance of dismay at 
his apparel, the short one re¬ 
marked to his tall companion, 
“My homespuns look so seedy 
I think I’ll go to yonder squaw. 
I hear she makes ‘wino’ buck¬ 
skin pants. The boys tell me 
she has just finished a pair for 
her brave, Thunderhead. Maybe 
we can get her to sell them.” 

The tall soldier accompanied 
his friend, being secretly anxious 
to possess the pants himself. All 
the way there each soldier en¬ 
tertained visions of himself 



UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


103 


decked out in picturesque array, 
his form the envy of the camp. 

“Shorty” spent considerable 
time trying to persuade the 
dusky lady to accept a five dollar 
gold piece and hand over the 
coveted buckskins. But the gold 
piece looked very small to the 
squaw; she decidedely shook her 
head and muttered, “Me no 
swap.” 

“Shorty” went away discon¬ 
solate. Not so his tall com¬ 
panion. A bright idea had 



Lachoneus Barnard 


popped into his head and he was 
very elated. Immediately upon 
reaching camp, he brought forth 
a five-dollar gold piece of his 
own and unknown to his dis¬ 
appointed comrade had it 
changed into silver half-dollars 
and quarters. With a beating 
heart and bounding step he soon 
made his way back to the Indian 
wickiup. 

The bright coins in his out¬ 
stretched palm impressed the 


squaw. She supposed the value 
of the silver much greater than 
the single gold piece and will¬ 
ingly took the money, parting 
with the handsome buckskins. 

Early next morning, orders 
came to pack hastily and ride in 
pursuit of a band of Indians 
who had been raiding near there 
the night before and had escap¬ 
ed with horses and cattle. As 
he rode along proudly, clad in 
the buckskin pants, “Shorty” 
cast many an envious glance in 
his direction and wondered how 
“Slim” had obtained them from 
the Indian woman. 

Advancing rapidly, they en¬ 
countered the winding Snake 
River, which the company cross¬ 
ed and recrossed, hot on the 
Indians’ trail, often dashing into 
the tempestuous stream on one 
side as the Indians whom they 
were pursuing rushed out of the 
water on the opposite bank, far 
enough ahead to be out of dan¬ 
ger. Each entry into the stream 
dampened the spirits of the 
buckskin pants to the utter dis¬ 
may of the rider. The water 
soaked and lengthened them un¬ 
til they dangled below “Slim’s” 
feet. Interfering with the use 
of his stirrups, each time he 
emerged from the swollen 
stream “Slim” whipped out his 
pocket-knife and slashed off a 
strip. 

As the afternoon wore on 
and the troops were still hot on 
their trail, the Indians decided 
to leave the stream and make 
for the mountain side. The 
soldiers pursued them over the 
dangerous cliffs where a false 
step would have hurled horse 



104 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


and rider hundreds of feet be¬ 
low. The sun shone from a 
cloudless sky, its burning rays 
reflecting from the barren rocky 
cliffs. 

The troops longed for the 
shade of the trees in the distance. 

The buckskin pants began to 
dry and simultaneously to 
shrink. When at last the com¬ 
pany halted to encamp for the 
night, the buckskins halted in 
their upward flight—just above 
“Slim's” knees. They made 
camp in a sylvan glade that was 
infested with mosquitos and the 
inroads they made on “Slim’s” 
legs were terrible. The insects 
tried to avoid the small branches 
he so vigorously switched about 
his limbs. But though some 
were slain, many went off well- 
satisfied. Needless to say, the 
heretofore envious glances of his 
comrades were now ones of 
mirth, accompanied by incessant 
guffaws. 

Early next morning the bugle 
call echoed through the moun¬ 
tain peaks. At the sound of the 
bugle, “Slim” sprang to his feet, 
his heart sank as he looked at 
the remains of the buckskins. 
He caught them up angrily and 
threw them over the limb of a 
tree. A messmate gave him a 
discarded pair of homespuns 
which had been lined with tick¬ 
ing. But after the strenuous 
march through trees and under¬ 
brush, the lining only remained. 
He took them gladly, but with 
a sigh. 

That night “Slim” was 
captured by the Indians and 
after two days' imprisonment, 


was brought before Washakie, 
chief of the Shoshones, fearing 
and trembling. 

Washakie asked, “You Mor¬ 
mon?” 

“Yes.” 

“You after Indians!” 

Here “Slim” saw a glimmer 
of light and gained courage. 
“Oh no, we don’t want to hurt 
the Indians, but Washakie, you 
must leave the mail and stage 



line alone. There is a wagon¬ 
load of presents at Fort Bridger 
sent for you by Brigham 
Young. If you will pilot me 
safely back there, I will see to it 
that you receive these wonder¬ 
ful presents.” And he gave silent 
thanks to Brigham Young's 
diplomacy. 

Washakie’s face beamed with 
delight and he extended “Slim” 
a cordial invitation to dine at 
his neighbor's, brave Rain-in- 
the-Face. 



UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


105 


“Slim” soon found himself 
seated in the wickiup of the red- 
man, Rain-in-the-Face, hold¬ 
ing in his hand a steaming 
bowl of soup. The broth tasted 
queer, but as he had not eaten 
for two days, he readily gulped 
it down. Upon rising to leave, 
he wished to please his host by 
complimenting him. So he told 
him how much he had enjoyed 
the soup and wondered what it 
could be made of. 

Rain-in-the-Face explained 
how his eldest son, Wampu, 
two days previously, had dis¬ 
covered a piece of rawhide hang¬ 
ing over the limb of a tree. 



Captain Lot Smith 


LEST WE FORGET 

Dr. Seymour B. Young of 
the First Council of Seventy 

IX—Captain Lot Smith 

Captain Smith enlisted in the 
volunteer service to help win the 


war against Mexico in 1846-8. 
As is well known, this Bat¬ 
talion consisted of 500 volun¬ 
teers from the ranks of the 
emigrating companies of the 
“Mormon” people. Lot Smith 
was then only sixteen years of 
age, the limit for enlisting being 
from 18 to 45. It is said that 
when he stepped under the line 
to measure his height, he raised 
partly on his tip toes to make 
the proper measurement. How¬ 
ever, he was admitted and reg¬ 
istered, and marched to Fort 
Leavenworth, Kansas, with the 
Battalion. The hardships of 
the journey from Leavenworth 
to California have never been 
fully told, but its main points 
are a matter of history. The 
sufferings of the men from 
thirst and fatigue were intense. 
Lot Smith, though the young¬ 
est soldier in the camp, con¬ 
tinued the march with those at 
the front. On one occasion when 
the company were almost fam¬ 
ished for want of water, they 
dug a well, and found water. 
Lot was selected to go back with 
canteens of water to help the 
men who had fallen on the trail. 
He had strict orders not to 
distribute any water until the 
hindmost of the thirsty and ex¬ 
hausted men was reached. The 
story is told of how the young 
soldier could not resist the 
pleadings of his comrades and 
listening to their appeals he re¬ 
lieved each with a few swallows 
of water until the last one was 
met and received his portion, 
when every drop was exhausted; 
with the now partly refreshed 




106 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


soldiers he reached camp where 
plenty of water was found in 
the newly-dug wells, now 
known as the Maricopa wells of 
Arizona. These supplied them 
with an abundance of water. 
Their location is to this day 
pointed out to travelers. The 
officer, learning of Lot’s return 
from his journey with water to 
save his comrades, took Private 



Henry Bird 


Smith to task for disobeying 
orders. Lot’s hands were or¬ 
dered to be bound by the wrists 
and a cord fastened from them 
to the wagon rod at the hind 
end of the wagon, so that when 
the wagon should start, Lot 
would be compelled to walk be¬ 
hind it under the burning rays 
of the sun in the hot desert sand 
until the forenoon march was 
ended. That was the sentence, 
but Colonel P. St. George 
Cooke, being advised of the sit¬ 


uation, countermanded the order 
of Lieutenant D., and Lot 
Smith was not subjected to this 
cruel and unjust punishment. 

Having been mustered out of 
the service in the winter of 
1848. at San Diego, California, 
Lot Smith returned and identi¬ 
fied himself with the “Mormon" 
colony in Salt Lake City. Not 
long thereafter he located in 
Farmington, and engaged in 
the cultivation of a small 
farm from 1859 to 1862, 
when he was placed in com¬ 
mand of the Utah volunteers 
who enlisted in the war to save 
the Union. 

Early in the year 1864, Pres¬ 
ident Young was impressed 
with the thought of colonizing 
the region south near where St. 
George is located, and also to 
place colonies into southern and 
eastern Arizona. One of these 
companies of colonizers for Ari¬ 
zona was committed to Captain 
Lot Smith. 

June, 1892, one day, Lot 
Smith was shot by an Indian 
while out on his horse. He 
maintained his seat in the sad¬ 
dle, however, until he reached 
home, where he fell helpless 
from his horse and was carried 
into the house and laid upon his 
bed, where he soon after ex¬ 
pired. Captain Smith was buried 
in the colony burial ground at 
Sunset, or Tuba. His body re¬ 
mained there for more than ten 
years, when it was exhumed by 
friends and comrades, and by 
consent of the Church authori¬ 
ties, returned to Farmington, 
Utah, his home town. There 
he was given the honor of a 




UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


107 


military burial. A brief account 
of his burial follows: 

Under date of April, 1902, 
the Deseret News contained an 
account of Captain Smith’s fun¬ 
eral, from which the facts here¬ 
in are largely gathered: 

“Ten years have elapsed since 
the death of Lot Smit, the fa¬ 
mous pioneer and soldier, (he 
died June 21, 1892) yet at the 
memorial service yesterday 
(April 7, 1902) it seemed as if 
that heroic spirit was hovering 
near to stir in the breasts of his 
old comrades that love and de¬ 
votion with which he inspired 
them a half century ago. The 
occurrence of yesterday was a 
memorable event, touching not 
only the life of the departed 
man and the members of his 
family but also a score of those 
old veterans who struggled and 
fought with him, and to this 
day cherish the memory as one 
of the dearest tenants of their 
hearts. Many of them had the 
opportunity yesterday to testify 
of the character of their captain, 
and their words of love touched 
the hearts of all present, and 
tears flowed freely from many 
eyes. 

“If the spirit of Captain 
Smith had been permitted to re¬ 
enter his body he would have 
been surrounded by more of his 
men than had been with him 
since the Indian campaign on 
the Snake River in 1862, and 
they would all have been pre¬ 
pared to follow him wherever 
he led. The spirit of the entire 
party of veterans was manifest 
in the expression of one of their 
number who exclaimed, that he 


never wished for a better leader: 
and if, on the other side of the 
veil, it became necessary to fight 
for the protection of friends his 
only wish would be to be led by 
Captain Lot Smith. 

“In all the eulogies pro¬ 
nounced yesterday over the re¬ 
mains of him who was one of 
Utah’s bravest of the brave, the 
conclusion would be forced up- 



William Harrison Walton 


on one, that for care and fore¬ 
thought exercised in behalf of 
his men, Lot Smith never had a 
superior. The master impulse 
of his nature was fidelity to 
duty, self sacrifice and all un¬ 
remitting thought for the com¬ 
fort and safety of those who 
followed him. If to display 
these qualities in the highest de¬ 
gree is to be a great leader, then 
Lot Smith has a clear title to 
the name. 

“Although his body has been 







108 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


mouldering in the grave for a 
decade, it was as if his spirit 
had just taken its flight, and 
the services bore all the aspects 
of a funeral following imme¬ 
diately after death, as the speak¬ 
ers related one after the other 
the acts of their captain, tears 
would suffuse the eyes of the 
members of his household, and 
not only they but many others 
wept, including many of the 
grey-haired veterans who had 
not wiped tears from their eyes 
for years. 

“These circumstances to¬ 
gether with the crowded meet¬ 
inghouse, the presence of some 
of the leading men in the com¬ 
munity, including President 
Joseph F. Smith, together with 
the fact that the remains had 
been brought from Ari¬ 
zona, after lying there for so 
long, called up the reflection of 
how great must have been the 
love that effected this change in 
the hero’s last resting place. It 
all tended to add to the pathos 
of the scene. 

“There was not that deep 
and almost insufferable sorrow 
that follows the passing of a 
young spirit, but rather the 
pathos that lies in the tribute 
that brave men pay to a brave 
man.” 

The funeral party left Salt 
Lake, at 12:50 p. m. and num¬ 
bered about one hundred. 
Among them were President 
Joseph F. Smith, President John 
R. Winder, John Henry Smith, 
Heber J. Grant. Fourteen of 
the company present served un¬ 
der Captain Smith in the Civil 
War campaign of 1862. Their 


names are as follows: Seymour 
B. Young, Joseph H. Felt, 
Charles Crismon, Jr., J. I. At¬ 
kinson, T. H. Harris, A. S. 
Rose, William Longstrough, 
James Sharp, James Larkins, 
Solomon Hale, Lachoneous 
Barnard, W. C. Allen, Ira N. 
Hinckley, and Samuel H. Hill. 

Of those who were with Lot 
Smith in the campaign of 1857, 
during the Johnston Army in¬ 
vasion, were James P. Terry, 
Joseph Parry, Orson P. Arnold, 
and John Bagley. These men 
served personally under the fam¬ 
ous captain, but there were 
many others who fought in In¬ 
dian campaigns of later years, 
for it is doubtful if there has 
been a more notable gathering 
of the representatives of the old 
Utah Militia for years, and it 
was fitting that such a gather¬ 
ing should be about the remains 
of the master martial spirit of 
that period. 

At the Farmington depot the 
escort were met by carriages and 
driven to the tabernacle where 
the services Were held. The 
stores were all closed in honor 
of the deceased, and it looked 
as if the entire populace had 
turned out to pay their last re¬ 
spects to one whose home was 
once among them. 

The casket was draped in the 
American flag, and was borne to 
and from the wagon by Samuel 
Bateman, James Sharp, Charles 
H. Wilcken, Orson P. Arnold, 
Joseph H. Felt and Samuel Hill. 
These were all members of Cap¬ 
tain Smith’s company and per¬ 
formed these last sad offices with 
more than passing love. The 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


109 


services began at 2 o’clock and 
were presided over by Bishop J. 
M. Secrist, of Farmington. The 
music was furnished by the 
Farmington choir under the di¬ 
rection of Joseph Robinson, and 
the opening hymn was, “Gates 
Ajar.’’ Prayer was offered by 
President Seymour B. Young, 
followed by the rendition of the 
hymn, “God is Just.” 

The first speaker was Pres¬ 
ident John R. Winder, who be¬ 
gan by reading a letter of regret 
from Bishop R. T. Burton, 
who explained that he was un¬ 
able to be present, but wished to 
reassure the family of the de¬ 
parted leader of his never failing 
love and esteem for his memory. 

President Winder then stated 
that he had looked forward 
with interest for some time to 
the bringing home of the re¬ 
mains of Lot Smith. “I always 
admired Lot Smith,” said he, 
“for his bravery; he always 
stood ready to do his part, and 
his men loved and obeyed him, 
for he was kind to them and 
always in the lead.” 

The next speaker was Samuel 
Bateman, of West Jordan, 
whose tribute was very impres¬ 
sive. He said that this was one 
of the most joyful days he had 
ever experienced, as it was the 
consummation of the efforts of 
months. A kinder or more 
fearless man than Lot Smith 
never lived. “I have seen him 
under the most trying circum¬ 
stances, but I have never known 
him to lose his self possession; 
and if conditions were such that 
any of the men must go hungry, 


he was always one that went 
without. I have been working 
for months to have these dear 
remains brought from their 
lonesome resting place in Ari¬ 
zona, and now that this is ac¬ 
complished, I am unable to ex¬ 
press my joy.” Lot Smith never 
slept, said the speaker, at least it 
seemed so to me. He was al¬ 
ways ready, and knew when to 
strike, and his blows always 
counted. 

Solomon Hale, the next 
speaker, was a member of Cap¬ 
tain Smith’s company, in 1862, 
and was with him under many 
trying circumstances. “Lot 
Smith was a man who never 
knew fear—he never faltered, he 
was not a driver. Drivers go 
behind, but he was a leader, al¬ 
ways in the front, except when 
the danger was in the rear, then 
he was behind.” Elder Hale 
stated that he slept with Captain 
Smith for three months. One 
night Smith walked the camp all 
night, broken-hearted, because 
of the death of one of his men 
who had been drowned in the 
Snake River. Captain Smith was 
a brave, true, and good man and 
was always ready to lay down 
his life for his friends, he will 
always live and will never die 
in the hearts of his men who 
were with him and knew him 
as he was. 

Corporal Seymour B. Young, 
pronounced a striking eulogy 
upon his dead captain. Before 
doing so, however, he read a 
letter from Comrade S. H. W. 
Riter in which he expressed his 
keen regret at being unable to 
attend the memorial services. 


110 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


Corporal Young then proceeded 
to relate many interesting anec¬ 
dotes connected with the Civil 
War service of 1862, in which 
the cool bravery of Captain 
Smith stood out so conspicu¬ 
ously. 

On one occasion the speaker 
and the captain rode out in ad¬ 
vance of the company in quest 
of something to eat, as the men 
had been without rations for 
several days. They finally met 
up with a company of emigrants 
who insisted that Captain Smith 
and his comrade were members 
of a band of robbers, and in¬ 
formed them that they were to 
be hanged to the end of a wagon 
tongue; not much impression 
was made apparently upon the 
two soldiers, and Captain Smith 
stated that if they would furnish 
some provisions that would be 
the thing for them to do. He 
declared that Captain Smith 
went without food day after 
day that others might have to 
satisfy their hunger. Captain 
Smith seemed full of the spirit 
of self denial, he was a natural 
born leader, though he was 
humble as a child, and filled that 
beautiful poetic expression, the 
bravest are the tenderest. 

“I have this to say of my 
comrade, our commander,” said 
comrade James Sharp: “There 
lies a man who never knew fear. 
He was gentle as a woman and 
as brave as a lion. I knew him 
as a citizen, as a soldier, and 
also as a missionary of the 
Church, when he was a humble 
preacher of the gospel in a for¬ 
eign land, and he was always 
the same brave, true, genial. 


kind-hearted man. His soul was 
full of good cheer and of love.” 

Other eulogies breathing the 
same testimony as those already 
given of the bravery, unselfish¬ 
ness, devotion, and tenderness of 
Captain Lot Smith were spoken 
by Orson P. Arnold, Joseph H. 
Pelt, Samuel Hill, Ira N. Hinck¬ 
ley, James P. Terry, Thomas 
Abbott, Joseph Parry, also Pres¬ 
ident Hess of Davis stake whose 
tribute was a glowing one. Pres¬ 
ident A. W. Ivins of Mexico, 
who was associated with Lot 



Wm. W. Lutz 


Smith in Arizona in 1875, 
testified of the kindness of Cap¬ 
tain Smith, being ever ready to 
help those who stood in need, 
whether he be Jew or Gentile. 

The last address was made by 
President Joseph P. Smith who 
was thankful that the remains 
of Captain Lot Smith had been 
brought home. “He was a gen¬ 
erous, noble-hearted man. His- 



UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


111 


tory will record the fact that 
Lot Smith was one of the not¬ 
able figures of the past. In 
every instance he discharged his 
duty to the very best of his 
ability.” 

G. W. Palmer, a son-in-law 
of the deceased, expressed in be¬ 
half of the family their deep 
appreciation of the words and 
acts of love for their husband 



Thomas Lutz 


and father, manifested by his 
former comrades. 

The services closed with the 
rendition of the hymn, “Nearer, 
my God to Thee,” and the 
benediction was pronounced by 
President Jesse N. Smith. The 
remains, followed to the ceme¬ 


tery by a large cortege of car¬ 
riages, were interred for the final 
rest in the family plot. The 
grave was dedicated by President 
Joseph E. Taylor, and the clos¬ 
ing prayer was offered by Jo¬ 
seph H. Felt. 

“Thus a most notable in¬ 
cident in the history of one of 
the picturesque figures of the 
pioneer days was closed.” 

Lot Smith was a teetotaler, 
was not given to profanity, ab¬ 
stained from the use of tea, 
coffee and tobacco. Besides his 
service to his country in the 
Mexican War, he went out on 
nine expeditions against the In¬ 
dians. It was said of him that 
were it not for his unpopular 
religion he would have become 
one of the greatest generals of 
the Civil War. 

Encountering bands and 
bands of hostile Indians Lot 
Smith always overcame their 
enmity and made them his 
friends. 

It is said on good authority 
that the Indian who killed Lot 
Smith afterward died of a brok¬ 
en heart in contemplation of his 
deed. The fatal shot was fired 
on the spur of the moment, 
without contemplation—the re¬ 
sult of false reports. The In¬ 
dians had always regarded Lot 
Smth as one of their most 
valued friends. 


OFFICIAL CALL OF THE 
BURTON COMPANY 

Executive Dept. Utah, 
Great Salt Lake City, 

April 25, 1862. 
Gen. Daniel H. Wells, 
Commanding Militia 
of Utah Territory. 

Sir: 

A call has been made upon 
the executive of Utah Territory 
by the Superintendent of the 



Col. Robert T. Burton 

Overland Mail Company, Maj. 
J. E. Eaton, for military pro¬ 
tection of mails, passengers, and 
the property of the mail com¬ 
pany from the depredations of 
hostile Indians. 

It is represented that the stock 
of the Overland Mail Company 
along the line east of this city, 
has been forcibly stolen, stations 


robbed, passengers attacked, and 
mails destroyed. 

I therefore require you im¬ 
mediately to dispatch, for pur¬ 
poses of protection and defense 
of the United States mails and 
the property of the mail carriers, 
as well as the persons of pas¬ 
sengers and all others connected 
with the line of the Overland 
Mail Company, east of Great 
Salt Lake City, twenty mounted 
men duly officered and proper¬ 
ly armed and equipped, carrying 
sufficient ammunition for thirty 
days' service in the field, and 
furnished with the necessary 
commissary, stores and forage 
with proper means of transpor¬ 
tation for the same. The officer 
commanding this expedition 
will use his discretion as to the 
movements of his command, as 
well as the term of service neces¬ 
sary to insure the safety and 
security of the mail and all per¬ 
sons and property connected 
therewith, and will communi¬ 
cate freely by telegraph when 
necessary with the General com¬ 
manding the militia of the ter¬ 
ritory and the commander in 
chief. 

Frank Fuller, 

Acting Governor and 
Commander in Chief. 

Echo Canyon Creek, ordin¬ 
arily a stream, but in the Spring 
of 1862 a raging torrent, caused 
by the melting snows, became a 
vexatious problem to the Bur¬ 
ton Volunteers, who were com¬ 
pelled to cross the stream several 
times. They dragged the pro- 




UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


113 


visions and baggage over on 
rafts. They were compelled to 
abandon their wagons. Some 
of the horses could not swim. 

Robert T. Burton’s horse was 
a splendid swimmer. He was 
a large roan horse, wide-faced 
and intelligent. 

Robert T. Burton mounted 
and rode across the stream to the 
opposite bank. Here he dis¬ 
mounted, and commanded the 
horse to return alone. 

The animal seemingly under¬ 
stood, because he would recross 
a stream and bring over a new 
rider as often as he was directed. 
—Wm. S. Burton. 

BURTON’S HORSE 

The Robert T. Burton Com¬ 
pany lay encamped just east of 
Fort Bridger. 

Before retiring one night, 
Col. Robert T. Burton became 
confident, from indications on 
the ground, that Indians were 
in the vicinity. He set a double 
guard over the men and horses 
and personally made the rounds, 
cautioning the guards to be on 
the alert for Indians. The red 
men were eager to steal horses, 
believing it perfectly right to 
take their neighbor’s cattle, if 
they were clever enough to get 
them. Having been out in the 
mountains frequently with his 
master, in pursuit of the red 
man. Col. Burton’s horse seem¬ 
ed to be able to detect the pres¬ 
ence of Indians. 

Between one and two o’clock 
in the morning the Colonel was 
instantly awakened. He thought 
at first that his horse was graz¬ 
ing on his hair, but he im¬ 


mediately discovered the reason 
for this unusual browsing. The 
warning came just in time to 
save him. An Indian stood at 
his side with deadly intent. 
Burton sprang to his feet and 
shouted, “Indians!” 

The troops sprang up and 
several fired at the Indian as he 
made his escape. 

This evidently warded off an 
attack from the Indians, as they 
were not molested further. —- 
Wm S. Burton. 

THE ROBERT T. BURTON 
COMPANY 

1 Col. Robert Taylor Bur¬ 
ton, Commanding. 

1 Heber P. Kimball, 1 Lieuten¬ 
ant. 

1 Jos. M. Simmons, 1 Sergeant. 

2 Robert J. Golding, 2 Sergt. 
(Quarter Mast. Sergeant.) 

3 John W. Wooley, 2nd Sergt. 

1 Stephen Taylor, 1st Cor¬ 
poral. 

1 Mark Croxall, Bugler. 

1 Joshua Terry, Guide and In¬ 
terpreter. 

1 Richard B. Margetts, Farrier. 

1 James T. Allred, Private. 

2 Lewis Grant, Private. 

3 William J. Harris, Private. 

4 William Carlos, Private. 

5. Orson P. Miles, Private. 

6 Adam Sharp, Private. 

7 Samuel D. Serrine, Private. 

8 George W. Thatcher, Private. 

9 James Woods, Private. 

10 Brigham Young, Jr., Pri¬ 
vate. 

11 John W. Young, Private. 
Privates acting as teamsters: 

1 Henry Heath, Teamster. 

2 Lewis N. Neeley, Teamster. 



Col. Robert T. Burton 

As “Marshall of the Day’’ in parade at Salt Lake City. The Celebration was in honor 
of Statehood. Utah became the 45th state in the union, Jan. 6th, 1896. 






UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


115 


3 George Spencer, Teamster. 

4 Lewis A. West, Teamster 
Term of service April 25 th 

to June 30th, 1862. Arrived 



Hon. Wm. H. Hooper 


at Fort Bridger May 4th, 1862. 

Adjutant General’s office, 
Great Salt Lake City, June 
30th, 1862. 

DIARY OF ROBERT T. 

BURTON 

The Robert T. Burton Co. 
Civil War Volunteers served 
with troops for the defense of 
the “Overland Mail,” United 
States Volunteers. They served 
a little over 30 days. 

Captain Robert T. Burton 
returned to Salt Lake City May 
31, 1862, with his men who 
had left the City April 26, 
1862 for the purpose of protect¬ 
ing the Overland Mail Route 


across the plains. The following 
is Colonel Burton’s detailed de¬ 
scription of the journey: 

Saturday, April 26, Follow¬ 
ing is a list of the guard called 
by Acting Governor Frank 
Fuller to go east for the purpose 
of protecting the mail route 
from Indians and also to escort 
Wm. H. Hooper and Chauncy 
W. West a part of their way 
to the States: 

Robert T. Burton, Command¬ 
ing. 

Heber P. Kimball, wagon and 
5 animals. 

Brigham Young, Jr., wagon 
and 5 animals. 

John W. Woolley, 1 animal. 

R. J. Golding, 1 animal. 
Stephen Taylor, 1 animal. 

Geo. Thatcher, 1 animal. 

John W. Young, 1 animal. 
Orson P. Miles, 1 animal. 

S. D. Serrine, Henry Heath 
with Daniel H. Wells’, wa¬ 
gon and 4 mules. 

James F. Allred, 1 animal. 

Wm. J. Harris, 1 animal. 
Richard Margetts, 1 animal. 
Lewis M. Grant, 1 animal. 
Adam Sharp, 1 animal. 

James Woods, 1 animal. 

Joshua P. Terry (furnished) 1 
animal. 

J. M. Simmons, 1 animal. 
Mark Croxall, 1 animal. 
William Carloss, 1 animal. 

Geo. Spencer, Lewis N. Neeley. 

We left Salt Lake City Satur¬ 
day, April 26, 1862 at 10:30 
o’clock a. m. and arrived at 
Hank’s Station (in Parley’s 
Canyon) at 2 o’clock. We rode 
up the canyon, where the road 
was very bad on account of 



116 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


high water. Soon after camp¬ 
ing for the night we found that 
the orders for grain had been 
forgotten. I sent John W. 
Young on express to the City 
for them at 4 o’clock p. m. 
Hooper and West arrived at 
6:30 p. m. Our messenger 
which we had sent to the city 
for orders for grain returned 
with them. At 9 o’clock p. m. 
William Carloss came to camp 
and reported that Bro. Kim¬ 
ball’s wagon, loaded with grain 
was one and a-half miles down 
the canyon, stuck in the mud 
and the tongue broken. I sent 
Carloss back to the wagon with 
instructions to David P. Kim¬ 
ball (who was with it) to 
secure the mules and camp where 
he was until morning, when re¬ 
lief would be sent to him. 

Sunday , April 27. We sent 
assistance to David P. Kimball 
and brought in the wagon of 
grain. We borrowed a tongue 
of Bishop Hardy, and repaired 
the wagon, then rolled out from 
camp at 20 minutes to 8 o’clock 
a. m. Bro. Kimball returning 
to the City. We traveled until 

3 o’clock p. m., and were 
obliged to camp in the road, 
some two miles past the summit. 
The snow was very deep and 
the teams were unable to haul 
the wagons without any load; 
they broke through the snow 
continually. We borrowed a 
sled of the Mail Co., and hauled 
the loading over the summit to 
our camp. Three wagons be¬ 
longing to John Taylor ( apos¬ 
tate ) were stuck in the snow a 
short distance ahead of us. At 

4 o’clock Lewis M. Grant and 


James Woods came to camp 
from the City. We concluded 
to camp until morning, when 
by making an early start, while 
the snow was frozen, we could 
roll through to Kimball’s Sta¬ 
tion. 

Monday, April 28. Started 
from camp at 20 minutes to 5 
o’clock. Soon after starting we 
had to take off the teams from 
the wagons and sleds and take 



Heber P. Kimball 


them around a bad piece of road 
and then take wagons and sleds 
through by hand. We succeeded 
in making Kimball’s Station at 
half past 8 o’clock. No accident 
happened except the breaking of 
one of the sleds, the loading of 
which was taken out and sent 
for soon after we arrived in 
camp. We found a sled at 
Ferguson’s that we used from 
last night’s camp to this. We 
got along very well this morn¬ 
ing, but the wide track wagons 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


117 


would get off the road very 
often, which made it very hard 
on the teams. There was no 
hay nor grain at this station and 
the mail men said there was 
none this side of Bridger. At 
20 minutes past nine o’clock 
Lewis Robinson and son arrived 
at this station with one wagon 
on their way to Green River. 
A man came in from the east 
and reported the road very bad, 
so we concluded to camp until 
morning and try and get over 



Joseph M. Simmons 

1st Sergeant, Burton Co. 

the bad road while it was 
frozen. 

Tuesday, April 29. At 5 
o’clock we broke camp and 
traveled until ten o’clock and 
by very hard labor lifting wag¬ 
ons out of the snow, getting 
mules out of the mud, etc., suc¬ 
ceeded in making 6 miles and 
camped. At the head of Silver 


Creek Canyon there were three 
large land slides which made the 
road almost impassable. We 
succeeded in getting around the 
first one we came to very well 
by taking the bed of the creek 
for a short distance. The other 
two had to be passed over, 
which task after much labor, 
was accomplished without any 
serious accident. Lewis Robin¬ 
son was left behind with a 
broken axle-tree. Three of the 
boys remained with him to help 
repair the damage. We also 
broke our sled runner and left 
it at the head of the canyon. 
Robinson arrived in two hours 
after we camped. At half past 
12 we broke camp again and 
traveled until half past 5 and 
camped half a mile up Echo 
Canyon. We found the road 
down the Weber very good, but 
Silver Creek Canyon could not 
be worse and get over it at all. 
We left 25 bushels of oats at 
Kimball’s Ranch and got the 
same amount at Chalk Creek of 
Lewis Robinson. One of the 
mail men came in from Yellow 
Creek today and reported the 
road at that place impassable on 
account of high water. We tele¬ 
graphed to Brigham Young 
soon after our arrival and re¬ 
ceived an answer in a short time. 
All was well in the City. A 
Company of cavalry was to be 
raised in the City to go on the 
mail route. There were diffi¬ 
culties in the road occasioned 
by mail employees instead of the 
Indians, etc. 

Wednesday, April 30. We 
left camp at 7 o’clock and work¬ 
ed hard until 3:30 o’clock and 




118 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


made eleven miles. We crossed 
the creek four times which we 
found very high indeed. We 
had to swijn the animals, haul 
the wagons across with ropes 
and then make foot bridges and 
carry over the baggage. All 
hands were very tired this even¬ 
ing and many of them wet 
through. 

Thursday, May 1. Broke up 
camp at 5 o’clock and pushed 
ahead as fast as possible until 
eleven o’clock and made eight 
miles; had to cross the creek 
three times. The last crossing 
was very deep. The wagons 
went below the beds in the wa¬ 
ter and wet nearly all the bag¬ 
gage. This camp is at a mail 
station at the head of Echo 
Canyon, the keeper of which 
says it will be impossible to get 
the wagons through to Yellow 
Creek. He was out yesterday 
and said there was three feet of 
water in the station house. 
At three o'clock we started and 
traveled to Cache Cave and 
camped. We left the President's 
wide track wagon, 7 sacks of 
oats, some meat and two trunks 
at the station. We put three 
span of mules on Bro. Kimball's 
wagon and sent his teams with 
Neeley back to the city with one 
span. We found the road very 
good this afternoon, considering 
the amount of snow and water 
on the ground. 

Friday, May 2. We left camp 
at 6:30 and both men and ani¬ 
mals worked as hard as ever 
men and beasts did before. In 
eleven hours and a half we made 
5 miles to a point half a mile 
east of Yellow Creek. We were 


three hours getting through a 
drift of snow (west of Yellow 
Creek) twenty rods long by as 
many feet deep. Five hours were 
spent in getting across the Yel¬ 
low Creek bottom, the men 
being in cold snow water most 
of the time. I never saw men 
work more freely, although the 
water was so cold that their legs 
would be perfectly numb. The 
mail station we found as re- 



Mark CROXALL 


ported yesterday. Several sacks 
of locked mail were at the sta¬ 
tion. We got 4 sacks of oats 
and one coffee pot at the station. 
The men are very tired and wet. 
Having done today what the 
Mail Company could not do, 
and what they swore we could 
not. This is the 7th day from 
the City and we are now 70 
miles away. We have averaged 
10 miles per day, and I think 
no other set of men could do 
better under the circumstances. 






UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


119 


We are now camped at Needle 
Rock, where there is generally a 
small stream of water, but now 
it is roaring like a large river. 
We have just crossed it and the 
water was up to the top of the 
wagon boxes. Brigham Young, 
Jr., met with a severe accident 
today. His brother John, throw¬ 
ing a shovel to him, struck him 
on the thumb and cut it very 
badly bruising the bone. 

Saturday, May 3. We left 
camp at 7:30 o’clock and at 
half past 12 made Bear River 



Joshua Terry 

Guide and Interpreter, Burton Co. 

and stopped to feed the animals. 
The distance by the road is 8 
miles, but we must have traveled 
at least 12 miles in winding 
round on the ridges to avoid the 
snow drifts. We had to un¬ 
load only one wagon once this 
afternoon. Brother Myers who 
keeps the mail station here came 


in from Bridger today. He 
started yesterday and says the 
roads are getting better than 
they have been, but the streams 
are very high. Bear River had 
not risen much yet, it was easily 
forded without wetting the 
boxes. We took 4 sacks of oats 
from this station. We started 
at 2 o’clock and camped half 
way across the Big Ridge, at 
6:30 o’clock. We got along 
very well this afternoon and 
only found one or two bad 
crossings over snow creeks. With 
that exception we did not have 
much trouble. We made 17 
miles today. 

Sunday, May 4. We broke 
camp at six o’clock and stopped 
for noon at eleven o’clock at 
Rock Ravine, 7 miles from 
Bridger. We had to travel out 
of the road a large part of the 
way which made it hard pull¬ 
ing for the teams. The Muddy 
was very high, but we crossed 
on the bridge. We took one 
sack of barley and one of oats 
from the Muddy station; no 
one was living there. At 12 
o’clock, noon, we started, and 
at 2 o’clock we arrived at 
Bridger: the road was very 
good. We found the report 
about the Indians attacking the 
mail men correct; six men had 
been wounded, two of them 
severely, they were now in the 
hospital. The road was re¬ 
ported to be very bad ahead. 

Monday, May 5. We left 
Fort Bridger at 1 o’clock and 
camped on Black’s Fork at the 
Butte Station (20 miles) at 6 
o’clock p. m. At Bridger we 
received 1,360 pounds of oats 




120 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


of Lewis Robinson to be re¬ 
placed at Green River, also one 
sack of flour of Judge Carter. 
We got 1,000 rounds of am¬ 
munition at Bridger by tele¬ 
graphing Col. Alexander at 
Laramie. 

Tuesday, May 6. We left 
camp at 5:30 o’clock and 
traveled to the last crossing of 
Black's Fork, which we found 
very high. We had to make a 
boat of a wagon bed and ferry 
over the baggage, then swim the 
animals. It took some four 
hours to get all across, then we 
went on to within a mile and a 
half of Green River and camped. 
We took the upper road made 
last spring, found two very bad 
mud holes, and camped with 
one wagon stuck in the mud. 
We took two sacks of oats from 
Butte station. 

Wednesday, May 7. We 
started before breakfast and 
drove to Green River and camp¬ 
ed at Robinson’s Station. The 
ferry boat was gone; we soon 
found it however, down the 
river, about two miles, lodged 
on an island. We made a raft 
and went down and brought it 
up, and got the big rope across. 
We went down to the telegraph 
office, five miles, and left a dis¬ 
patch to be sent to the City. 
The wire was reported down 
between the Weber and the 
City. We have had no news 
from home since we left the 
Weber. 

Thursday, May 8. We fer¬ 
ried over this morning and at 8 
o’clock started. We drove 15 
miles and camped for noon. 


Robert T. Burton’s horse gave 
out (being sick) soon after 
starting and we sent it back to 
Robinson’s. We sent two men 
to the telegraph office this morn¬ 
ing to get an answer to our dis¬ 
patch from the City. At three 
o’clock they came up with it. It 
was from President Young. All 
was well at home. At 1:30 
o’clock we left camp and 
traveled to Little Sandy station 
and camped at 6:30 o’clock. 
We passed a mail station this 
afternoon from which we took 
two sacks of flour and 40 
pounds of peas. The flour had 



Richard B. Margetts 


been deposited there by Kimball 
and Lawrence. We traveled 39 
miles today over a good road. 
We had no grain at this station. 
There was a large quantity of 
paper mail at the station, west 
of this, and papers scattered all 
over the place. All the stations 
this side of Green River look as 



UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


121 


though they had been deserted 
in a hurry. 

Friday, May 9. We left camp 
and drove to Dry Sandy Sta¬ 
tion, 14 miles, and fed the ani¬ 
mals. We took from this sta¬ 
tion 3 sacks of barley and 15 
sacks of oats. In a half an hour 
we started and drove on to Pa¬ 
cific Springs Station, 9 miles, 
and camped at half past one 
o’clock. We saw a great deal of 
paper mail scattered along the 
road, supposed to be the con¬ 
tents of two sacks, as that num¬ 
ber were found on the road 
empty. Some mail had been 
burned a few miles west of this 
station. We found two mules 
here which we took along with 
us by Bromley’s request. At 3 
o’clock we started and traveled 
until 7 o’clock and camped at 
the first station on Sweet Water 
(15 miles.) This place had 
also been deserted. We found 
a great amount of snow this 
afternoon in crossing the South 
Pass and had to travel out of the 
road most of the time. The 
Sweet Water was very high, but 
we were lucky enough to find a 
narrow place of ice which held 
up the wagons and we got over 
in a short time. The walls of 
this station are ornamented with 
plates taken from various kinds 
of magazines and illustrated pa¬ 
pers and the ceiling covered with 
eastern papers. 

Saturday, May 10. This 
morning we rigged up another 
wagon, put on the mules that 
were taken from Pacific Station 
and Heber C. Kimball’s span. 
We took one bar of soap from 
here. We started at eight o’clock 


and were busy until 6 o’clock 
in getting to Strawberry Creek 
Station, 12 miles. The snow in 
the hollow was very deep and 
water was high. We were six 
hours crossing Willow Creek. 
The crossing of Rock Creek, al¬ 
though the baggage and wagons 
were taken across by hand, was 
not so bad. This station has 
been nearly covered up with 
snow. Drifts of snow were 
now as high as the house. We 
found plenty of grain here. 

Sunday, May 11. We left 
camp at 6:30 o'clock, and at 
10 o’clock made Lewis Silver’s 
Station (10 miles.) This is a 
mile of what is called South 
Pass City. Mr. Sullivan is the 
proprietor. The city consists 
of two houses and one stable. 
Two passengers, Mr. Benjamin 
Backman and Otto Mahl, (a 
German), were at this station. 
They were at the Ice Spring Sta¬ 
tion at the time of the difficulty 
three. We started again at 12 
p. m. and drove to Ice Spring 
Station, where the mail robbery 
occurred, and camped at 5:30 
o'clock. We traveled 22 miles 
this day. We found this sta¬ 
tion in a terrible state, mail bags 
were cut open, and their con¬ 
tents scattered about the prem¬ 
ises. We found many letters 
torn open, which evidently had 
contained money. There were 
22 sacks of U. S. locked mail (8 
of them cut open and rifled of 
their contents) 4 bags of Wells 
Fargo mail (3 cut open) and 
27 sacks of paper mail. We 
gathered up all the letters we 
could find and secured them in 
leather sacks and sewed up rents. 


122 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


We could not find any letter 
torn open that did not contain 
some evidence of having money 
enclosed. There were two or 
three of Wells Fargo checks 
found, one for three hundred 
dollars, these checks we put into 
the U. S. mail bags. As three 
of their sacks were rifled, large 
amounts are supposed to have 
been taken. This happened on 
Sunday the 27th April. Robert 
Kepernick the station keeper 
said the Indians came in the 
evening about 10 o’clock and 



Orson P. Miles 


were carousing around the 
premises until daylight. They 
chopped out some logs at the 
back end of the stable where 
they took out the stock. The 
mail was piled up in one corner 
of the stable, as also the trunks 
and clothing of the two pas¬ 
sengers and the station keeper's 
bedding. One passenger, Mr. 
Benjamin Backman, was on his 
way to the States; the German, 


a threatrical player, was on his 
way to California. His loss was 
considerable, having much cos¬ 
tume, several wigs and a variety 
of trappings which were mostly 
taken or destroyed. All the 
sacked mail was for the east, the 
paper mail for the west. It had 
been here several days before the 
robbery. The morning after the 
robbery, Mr. Kepernick and all 
the persons who were at the sta¬ 
tions, moved to Lewis Silver’s, 
22 miles west. He sent 5 men 
back the next day to take away 
his provisions, and all the things 
that were in the house. 

Monday, May 12. We left 
Ice Spring Station at 6 o’clock 
and made the Three Crossings 
Station at 10 a. m., 13 miles. 
We came by the lower road to 
avoid fording the river, it being 
very high. We brought along 
all the locked mail (26 sacks) 
leaving 27 sacks of, paper mail. 
At this station there are 10 sacks 
of locked mail and 6 of paper 
mail. We left at 12 m. (taking 
with us the 10 sacks locked 
mail), and drove to Split Rock 
Station, 12 miles, and camped 
to feed our animals. This is 
where the first depredations were 
committed, two men being 
killed while one escaped. We 
passed the place this afternoon, 
where the two mail coaches were 
attacked, wounding six men of 
the seven present, burning the 
mail, taking the animals, cut¬ 
ting up the harness, etc. The 
coaches were not burned. This 
sad affair occurred about half 
way between the two stations. 
Three Crossings and Split Rock. 
At 4 o'clock we left this place 



UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


123 


and traveled to Plaunt’s Fort, 

12 miles, and camped 7 p. m. 
This fort was deserted and the, 
stables had been burned. The 
supposition is that the stock was 
taken. 

Tuesday, May 13. We left 
camp at 4:30 a. m. and drove 
to Sweet Water Bridge Fort, 
and camped inside. This place 
was entirely deserted. A small 
note was found here addressed 
to H. B. Kelly and signed Wil¬ 
son, which said: "We left here 
in a big hurry, you bet.” We 
passed a camp of some 30 men 
from Denver this morning on 
their way to Salmon River. Jim 
Goodell was with them. They 
were very much frightened 
when we came up, expecting to 
be taken, having read a notice 
put up on a telegraph pole at 
the junction of the roads by the 
Frenchman Plaunts, saying that 
the depredations committed on 
the Sweet Water were done by 
Mormons and Snake Indians 
and advising emigrants to come 
to the Platte River. There were 
14 sacks of paper mail at this 
place and one sack cut open and 
papers scattered about the prem¬ 
ises. We found a small mule 
this morning at Devil’s Gate, 
with bridle and collar which we 
took along with the detachment. 
After letting the animals feed on 
grass until 3 o’clock we drove 
over to Grease Wood Station, 

13 miles, and camped. We met 
a company of men from Pike’s 
Peak this afternoon on their 
way to Salmon River. They 
expect to join the company 
which passed this morning. 
This station is deserted. 


'Wednesday, May 14. We left 
camp this morning at 4 o’clock 
and drove on to Warm Springs 
and took breakfast. At 8 a. m. 
we rolled out again and traveled 
to within 10 miles of Platte 
Bridge where we turned out the 
animals to graze. We met old 
Batteese and two other moun¬ 
taineers going on to the Chero¬ 
kee trail to trade with the emi¬ 
gration. We learned from Bat¬ 
teese that the Indians took 50 
head of stock from Plaunt’s 
Station and all the stock from 



George W. Thatcher 


Sweet Water Bridge soon after. 
Batteese says the chief of the 
gang was Pashago, a Snake In¬ 
dian there were some Snakes and 
Bannocks, about twenty-five or 
thirty in number. At one p. m. 
we started and drove to Platte 
Bridge Station traveling 39 
miles today. There were some 
ten or twelve persons mostly 
Frenchmen at this place. Plaunts 



124 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


among them. We got one sack 
of flour here, and bought of Mr. 
Antoine a beef yearling steer for 
$15. Plaunts denied the notice 
mentioned or saying anything 
bad about the Mormons. 

Thursday, May 15. Storming 
this morning severely with rain 
and snow started at 7 a. m. and 
drove to Platte Station, 14 
miles, and turned out the ani¬ 
mals to feed. The station was 
deserted. William Carloss left 
his horse at Platte Bridge, being 



John W. Wooley 

2nd Sergeant, Burton Co. 


unable to travel. We also left 
the mules, the one found at 
Devil’s Gate. Hooper, West and 
Burton went on from here to 
Deer Creek while the balance of 
the company remained until 
morning. It was still snowing 
and the snow covering up the 
grass and we had no grain for 
the animals. 


Friday, May 16. At 7:30 
o’clock we broke camp and 
drove to Deer Creek, 13 miles. 
Capt. Burton telegraphed east to 
the mail agent about the 36 
sacks locked mail, which we 
brought along. The agent will 
meet him with coach 20 miles 
from here tonight. Wm. H. 
Hooper, West and 8 of the de¬ 
tachment will return. The bal¬ 
ance of company will go up 
Deer Creek to the old Mormon 
Fort (3 miles) from City. All 
was well. We also sent a dis¬ 
patch to Governor Fuller, giv¬ 
ing particulars of the expedition 
thus far informing him that we 
should return unless otherwise 
ordered by him, or General 
Wells. We sent a telegram to 
Daniel H. Wells telling him the 
amount of grain, flour, etc., re¬ 
ceived this side of Green River. 
Brigham Young, Jr., sent a dis¬ 
patch to his father asking for 
the privilege to go east with 
Wm. H. Hooper. Brigham 
Young was one of the eight 
men selected to go on with 
Hooper from here and had 
started before the answer came. 
Some two hours after they had 
left, the answer arrived, and a 
messenger was immediately sent 
on with it. The dispatch was 
that he might do as he pleased. 
We also received a dispatch 
from Brigham Young, Sen., re¬ 
questing a statement of the 
amount of grain borrowed from 
mail stations between the city 
and Bridger, as the letter we had 
sent from the latter place, stat¬ 
ing the amount had not been re¬ 
ceived, and the Church train 



UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


125 


was about ready to start. We 
sent the answer this evening, 
stating the amounts and kinds 
received from different stations. 
The weather is very severe for 
the animals, cold, snowing and 
wind blowing. We are unable 
to get any grain for them. 

Saturday, May 17. The 
weather is still rough and un¬ 
pleasant. At 4:30 o’clock p. 
m. Capt. Burton and party re¬ 
turned with the exception of 
Brigham Young, Jr., who went 
on with William H. Hooper. 
The coach met them at La 
Prielle, as agreed, and took them 
and mail on east. A company 
of 80 U. S. Dragoons camped 
at Horse Shoe last evening, on 
their way to Sweet Water. Bur¬ 
ton telegraphed Mrs. Hooper 
and Brigham Young about the 
departure of Hooper, West, and 
Brother Brigham Young, Jr., 
from La Prielle, in the mail 
coach at 12. We received a tele¬ 
gram from Governor Fuller, but 
did not answer it this evening. 
This dispatch was concerning 
the dates of letters contained in 
mutilated mail bags. 

Sunday, May 18. We left 
camp at 8:30 a. m. and drove 
down to Deer Creek Station. 
We obtained from Joseph Bis- 
sonette, 50 pounds of flour 
which was paid for by order on 
Church Train. We bought of 
Bissonette, 17 buffalo robes, 13 
at $5.00 each, amount $6^00, 
and 4 at $7, amount $28.00, 
grand total, $93.00. We paid 
order on Church Train for 
$83.00 in flour (nine sacks) and 
$10.00 in cash (paid by H. P. 


Kimball.) We took aboard two 
passengers and rolled over to 
Platte Station and camped. 
Stickney and Hogan, telegraph 
operators are the passengers. 
Stickney is going to the City to 
take the place of Hibbard in the 
telegraph office, while Hogan 
stops at Sweet Water Bridge. At 
3 p. m. we started and drove to 
the lower bridge on the Platte 
and camped for the night. It 




Adam Sharp 


rained very fast this afternoon. 
There is a fort here built by 
Old Besham, but it is now de¬ 
serted. This bridge is five miles 
below the other. One end of 
it has fallen down, otherwise it 
could be crossed very easily. 

Monday, May 19. We left 
camp at 7:30 a. m. and traveled 
up to Platte Bridge. We got 
two sacks of flour for which 
we gave a receipt. The amount 
of toll charged the expedition 
for crossing Platte Bridge going 





126 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


and returning was thirty dol¬ 
lars. We got voucher for the 
payment of the same. We start¬ 
ed again and drove to the mail 
station at Red Buttes on the 
Platte, and took dinner. This 
station is on a new road, which 
we did not travel when we went 
down. It was deserted at the 
time of the troubles, and a 
stove, cockeryware, etc., which 
had been cached, were found by 
the Indians or white men and 



William J. Harris 

demolished. We brought along 
the mule left at P. B. Carloss’s, 
we found his horse all right. 
At 2:30 p. m. we broke camp 
and traveled to Willow Spring 
Station and camped. A very 
stormy and cold wind prevailed 
this afternoon. Mr. Stickney 
cut the telegraph wire and at¬ 
tached an instrument, but he 
could not communicate on ac¬ 
count of thunder storms along 
the line. We got a few words 


from Laramie, however, to the 
effect that Hooper and West and 
Brigham Young, Jr., left there 
last evening all well. Soon after 
dark this evening the horses 
took a stampede. Several of 
the men were after them until 
12 midnight, but to no purpose, 
as it was too dark to see the 
trail. We concluded to make 
an early start in the morning. _ 
Tuesday, May 20. This 
morning at 2:30 a. m. four or 
five started on the trail of the 
horses, and at 6 o’clock came in 
with them. They were found 
some 8 miles from camp. At 
8 a. m we left camp and drove 
to Grease Wood Creek and 
camped for noon. At 12:30 
we started again and traveled to 
Sweet Water Bridge and camped 
for the night. We found that 
this place had been visited by 
some miserable rascals since we 
were here on our downward 
trip. The telegraph batteries 
that were in good condition 
when we left had been broken 
to pieces, tables smashed, best 
rooms made stables for animals, 
taken away a large number of 
antelope skins, a large tent, 
opened cache and took a large 
lot of harness, etc. This cache 
contained 45 sacks of locked 
mail, 35 for California and 10 
for Salt Lake City. They had 
not harmed the mail, otherwise 
than leaving the cache open for 
storms and we found the sacks 
very,$damp and mouldy. We 
stored the mail destined for 
California in one of the build¬ 
ings, and Mr. Hogan remained 
here with it to take charge of 
it until the troops came up. This 




UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


127 


robbery is supposed to be done 
by some Pikes Peak emigrants. 
The mail deposited here is as 
follows: 


San Francisco _ 10 sacks 

Placerville _ 7 sacks 

Carson City _ 4 sacks 

Sacramento _ 6 sacks 

Wells Fargo - 7 sacks 


And one from Salt Lake City 
to St. Joseph, way mail. We 
took ten sacks along with us 
that are marked City by order 
of Governor Fuller who sent 
dispatch to that effect. 

'Wednesday, May 21. At 4 
a. m. we left camp and traveled 
to Plaunts Station and camped 
for breakfast. Mr. Merchant’s 
Station at Devil’s Gate had been 
burned to the ground, supposed 
by Denver emigrants. At 8 a. 
m. Capt. Lot Smith and com¬ 
mand came to camp, all well. 
At 12 m. we started and drove 6 
miles and camped. Capt. Smith 
and part of his company came 
and camped with us. The other 
portion went on to Sweet Water 
Bridge. He (Capt. Smith), 
thinks of making his headquar¬ 
ters near the Three Crossings of 
Sweet Water. Mr. Stickney 
sent a dispatch to the City an¬ 
nouncing his arrival. Mr. Wm. 
S. Godbe came up with Capt. 
Smith last evening and today 
at 10 o'clock rolled on for the 
east. A notice was found put 
up near Plaunts Station, saying 
that the depredation had been 
committed on the mail route by 
Indians or Mormons or both, 
warning emigrants not to travel 
in small parties, etc., with four 


names to it, Jim Goodale among 
them. Stephen Taylor with a 
small party went to his camp, 
some 10 miles from the road, 
and brought him to camp. He 
denies knowing anything about 
the notice. 

Thursday, May 22. We took 
a statement from Jim Goodale 
in reference to the taking of har¬ 
ness from the Mail Company, 
burning stations, etc. At 7 a. 
m. we started and drove to 
Three Crossings and camped 
for noon. The paper mail at 
this station had been shamefully 
used, every sack had been 
emptied and the contents scat¬ 
tered all about the premises. 
Emigrants had evidently been 
helping themselves to whatever 
they wished. At 1 p. m. we 
left camp and drove to Ice 
Springs and turned out for 
night. We found the mail at 
this place as we had left it. 

Friday, May 23. At 5 a. m. 
we started and drove to Junc¬ 
tion of the Semino’s Cut Off 
and Rocky Ridge roads and 
camped to let the animals feed 
and try and get in communica¬ 
tion from Bridger to find out 
when the supply train left there. 
At 10 a. m. we started, taking 
the Simino’s Cut Off, and after 
traveling 10 miles we turned 
out. One of the Bromley mules 
was delivered to Robert Keper- 
nick who went the other road 
and intended to stop at Rocky 
Ridge. Before starting we re¬ 
ceived a dispatch from Bridger 
to the effect that D. P. Kimball 
with supplies had left there on 
Sunday at 3 p. m. At 4 p. m. 







128 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


we started and after traveling 
some 5 miles we met D. P. Kim¬ 
ball and camped with him. We 
received the following supplies: 
22 pounds of sugar, 50 pounds 
of crackers and 15 pounds of 
hard bread. He (D. P. Kim¬ 
ball) , had two wagons and a 
guard of 5 men from Capt. 
Smith’s command. 

Saturday, May 24. We left 
camp at 6:30 a. m. and traveled 
to South Pass and camped. Soon 



Brigham Young, Jr. 


we started again and made Dry 
Sandy. We found a large 
quantity of locked mail at this 
station cached under sacks of 
grain. We had not observed it 
as we passed on our downward 
trip. Part of it had been under 
water for some time. There 
were also several sacks paper 
mail thrown into the sage brush 
this side of Pacific Springs. 
Sunday, May 25. We left 


camp at 4 o’clock a. m. taking 
a sack of oats and 4 of barley 
and drove to Little Sandy where 
we ate breakfast. There were 
at Dry Sandy Station 11 sacks 
of through mail to California, 
bearing dates from 7th to 9th 
of April, and 1 sack of way 
mail the tag torn < off. At 9 
a. m. we started again and drove 
to Big Sandy where we turned 
out for noon. There had been 
some flour and several bags of 
paper mail taken from this sta¬ 
tion since we were here, (don’t 
know by whom.) At 3 p. m. 
we left camp and drove 14 miles 
and camped on Big Sandy, 10 
miles from Green River. 

Monday, May 26. This 
morning we made Green River 
at 9 a. m. We ferried over and 
at 12 m. resumed the journey 
and drove down the river to the 
telegraph office, where we tried 
to get communication from the 
city, but could not. Again we 
traveled on and camped near 
Ham’s Pork. Joshua Terry re¬ 
mained at Robinson’s Ferry. 

Tuesday, May 27. We left 
camp at 6:30 a. m. and crossed 
Ham’s Fork. This stream was 
very high indeed, covering the 
bottom, but we got across very 
well. At this place we saw 
some Mountaineers who said 
they had lost 35 head of horses 
the previous night, some of 
them cut from the wagons 
where they were hitched. Some 
of our party went up to the 
camp, which is some three miles 
above the bridge. Some of the 
Mountaineers had followed the 
trail which took across Ham’s 




UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


129 


Fork, 10 miles above, and then 
towards Green River. They got 
in sight of the Indians driving 
the stock but did not follow 
them. We drove to Muddy 
Bridge on the new road and 
camped for noon. We found 
Bromley here with 6 coaches, 3 
wagons and a number of loose 
mules on their way to provision 
and stock the road east from 
here. At 3 p. m. we started and 
drove to Bridger and camped. 
We telegraphed the City this 



Lewis M. Grant 

evening but got no answer. 
John Murdock was camped here 
with 53 wagons. We left the 
two mules belonging to the 
mail company at Granger, this 
morning. 

1 Wednesday, May 28. This 
morning we received the follow¬ 
ing supplies from John Mur¬ 
dock: 40 pounds hard bread, 
50 pounds flour, 214 gallons 


molasses, 1 gallon vinegar, for 
which we gave receipt. We de¬ 
livered the 10 sacks of mail to 
the mail company which was 
started for the city this morning. 
We received an answer to last 
evening’s dispatch saying: 
“Come ahead.” At 10 a. m. we 
left Bridger and drove to the 
Muddy, where we turned out. 
We met two church trains this 
morning, namely, Capt. Homer 
Duncan with 40 wagons and 
Joseph Horne with 41 wagons. 
At 3 p. m we started and drove 
to Sulphur Creek and camped. 

Thursday, May 29. We 
started at 2 a. m. and drove 
over to Bear River, where we 
found Ansel Harmon with 35 
wagons (church train). We 
stopped and got breakfast and 
then drove to Yellow Creek, 
which we crossed quite easily by 
making bridges of two wagons 
and then carrying the baggage 
over and by swimming the ani¬ 
mals and hauling the wagons 
over by hand. We left Yellow 
Creek at 4 p. m. and drove to 
the head of Echo Canyon. We 
took one sack of barley from 
Bear River Station and gave re¬ 
ceipt for the same. 

Friday, May 30. Took 
aboard the grain and flour left 
here and also took the wagon 
left here, and at 6:30 we started 
and drove down to the mouth 
of the canyon and turned out 
for noon. We met Horton D. 
Haight with 38, and D. Miller 
with 49 wagons (church 
train). At 2 p. m. we broke 
camp and drove up the Weber 
to Pomeroy’s Ferry, and two 




130 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


hours later we camped on the 
opposite shore, having got all 
across safely. 

Saturday, May 31. We left 
camp at 7 a. m. and drove to 
Wm. H. Kimball’s in the Par¬ 
ley’s Park and camped for noon. 
We soon started again and drove 
to Great Salt Lake City, where 
we arrived at 8 p. m., all safe 
and all well. We obtained one 
sack of oats at Hank's Station. 
(From Robert T. Burton’s 
Journal.) 

All provisions received were 
accounted for, and were paid for 
by the United States Govern¬ 
ment, as shown by the records 
in the Utah State Armory. 



COL. ROBERT T. BURTON 

Col. Robert T. Burton of 
early American stock traveled 
extensively through the Eastern 
States, Central States, Europe 
and Southwestern Canada. June 
11, 1844, found him in Illinois 
a few days before the martyr¬ 
dom of the Prophet Joseph 
Smith and his brother Hyrum. 
He had become a member of the 
Church, and enlisted in Capt. 


Gleason’s Cavalry Company of 
the Nauvoo Legion. Early in 
life he became a military man. 
He possessed natural leadership. 
He was on guard duty in the 
City of Nauvoo at the time of 
the assassination of Joseph the 
Prophet, and for some time af¬ 
ter; endeavoring to protect the 
lives and property of the people 
from mob violence and robbery. 
He was bugler of the Nauvoo 
Brass Band. 

In the Spring of 1846, he 
was driven with others, by mob 
violence, across the Missouri 
River. The weather being in¬ 
tensely cold permitted his cross¬ 
ing over on the ice. He camped 
on the west bank. As the 
weather became warmer he and 
his party traveled through wa¬ 
ter and mud, there being no 
roads, by slow stages and 
reached Council Bluffs, Iowa, 
some time in June. Among the 
number to succumb to hardship 
was his mother. After bidding 
adieu to her lonely grave, he 
took his family and journeyed 
to Winter Quarters where they 
were organized into the com¬ 
pany of Brigham Young. Mr. 
Burton was appointed Bugler 
for the Company. They took 
up their lonely march across the 
plains. It was four, long weary 
months before the train of cov¬ 
ered wagons, battered and torn, 
entered Salt Lake Valley. 

In the Fall of 1849, the or¬ 
ganization of a territorial militia 
was commenced among which 
was the first company of 
cavalry, Captain George D. 
Grant, commanding, and Mr. 
Burton acting as bugler for the 



UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


131 


company. Early in the follow¬ 
ing year this company was 
called into active service by the 
Governor to defend the settlers 
in Utah County, against the 
hostile Indians. Leaving Great 
Salt Lake on the evening of 
February 7, 1850, they traveled 
all night, arriving at Provo 
early the following morning, 
where they found the Indians 
fortified on the south bank of 
the Provo River. The Indians 
stoutly defended their position 
for three days against the attack 
of the militia. 

However on the 3rd day the 
little company of cavalry, com¬ 
manded by Robert T. Burton, 
made a determined attack upon 
the Indian fortified stronghold, 
but were momentarily checked 
by the fire of their opponents. 

Burton's men quickly rallied, 
and charged upon the Indians 
from the one side, as Lot Smith 
brought up his men from the 
other side with such vigor, the 
Indians were routed from the 
protection of the cabin and fled 
to the mountains. 

Under the sheltering logs of 
the cabin the Burton and the 
Lot Smith men breathed more 
freely as they looked out upon 
the horses lying dead about 
them. (Whitney's History.) 

This was the first meeting of 
Capt. Lot Smith and Col. Rob¬ 
ert T. Burton. Here a life long 
friendship began between the 
two men. 

In September, 1850, Mr. 
Burton and company were or¬ 
dered north, against the Sho¬ 
shone Indians and again in 


November went to Utah Coun¬ 
ty against a remnant of the tribe 
whom they had fought the 
previous Spring. While on this 
campaign he was commissioned 
Lieutenant. In December he 
was ordered to Tooele County 
to fight marauding Indians. 
This campaign was a very try¬ 
ing one, the company having 
no tents or shelter, and bedding 
and clothing were very scarce. 



John W. Young 


After a hard trip the company 
returned to Salt Lake, having 
accomplished very little. In the 
following June (1851), he ac¬ 
companied another expedition 
against the Indians on the West¬ 
ern desert and although the men 
suffered much for water, they 
were entirely successful. In a 
battle at the edge of the desert, 
west of Skull Valley, nearly this 
entire tribe of Indians was 
killed. 







132 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


In the Spring of 1852 Lieut. 
Burton took a small company 
of men east to Green River to 
serve papers issued from the Dis¬ 
trict Court and to protect the 
settlers from Indians and rene¬ 
gade white men. The following 
year he was made Captain of 
Company A. His Major’s com¬ 
mission is dated March L 1855; 
his commission as Colonel is 
dated June 12, 1857; his com¬ 
mission as Major General, com¬ 
manding the Salt Lake Military 
District, was given by Governor 
Durkey in 1868. 

In October he went east with 
a company of picked men to 
rescue the hand-cart company 
who were in great distress some 
five or six hundred miles east 
of Salt Lake. The immigrants 
were stranded on the Platte 
River. The weather was ex¬ 
tremely cold, the snow deep, 
they ran short of provisions. 
This reduced the immigrants 
and their rescuers to one-fourth 
rations until an additional re¬ 
lief was sent from Salt Lake. 
After the im mig rants were pro¬ 
vided for as well as possible 
under the circumstances, Col. 
Burton was placed in charge of 
the immigrant train, arriving 
at Salt Lake City the last day 
of November. “This,” said Col. 
Burton, “was the hardest trip 
of my life—so many of the Lat¬ 
ter-day Saints dying on the 
journey from cold and hunger, 
and being buried on the way- 
side.” 

On the 15th of August. 
1857, Colonel Burton was or¬ 
dered to take a Company of one 


hundred mounted men to assist 
the incoming immigrants and 
take observation of the move¬ 
ments of the approaching U. S. 
army, said to be coming for the 
purpose of exterminating the 
Mormons. On this campaign 
he remained in the mountains 
during the Summer, Fall and 
part of the Winter, and in the 
Spring of 1858 the Latter-day 
Saints of Salt Lake made a move 
South in order to avoid the 
Army. Colonel Burton was 



George Spencer 


left with a force of the militia 
to guard the property of the 
Saints in the City if Col. John¬ 
ston’s army should enter the 
Valley. In 1862 he was ordered 
by acting Governor Fuller to 
take a company of picked, cour¬ 
ageous men and proceed as far 
east as the Platte River for the 
purpose of protecting the United 
States mail and telegraph route 




UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


133 


from the depredation of Indians 
and lawless white men, mail sta¬ 
tions having been burned and 
stock driven off, mail sacks cut 
open and contents scattered. 
Thus he became a Civil War 
Commander, keeping open an 
important line of communica¬ 
tion on the North for President 
Abraham Lincoln. This duty 
he performed to the entire satis¬ 
faction of the Governor of the 
Territory and National Civil 
War authorities. The mail mat¬ 
ter was collected and delivered 
to the Government Contractor 
on the Platte River. 

“Burton as a man was en¬ 
trusted with honorable and im¬ 
portant positions in every walk 
of life. He was an outstanding 
figure amongst the people, in all 
the trying scenes passed through 
by them,—plagues and poverty. 
And in all military efforts he 
ranked among the foremost. 
When trying times came, over 
Indian depredations, when as¬ 
sailed by conditions at home 
and abroad, Col. Burton was 
always equal to the occasion. In 
the early days when celebrations 
for the 4th of July were staged 
Major Burton, equipped in his 
regimentals, was marshal of the 
day. When the message was 
flashed across the wires that 
Utah must raise her quota of 
soldiers, The Robert T. Burton 
Company was born, and no 
hardship was considered too 
great for this intrepid man and 
his company, when their coun¬ 
try called them into action. The 
names of those of his command 
are found in these pages. Every 


man loved and obeyed his 
honored leader who was willing 
to make every sacrifice required 
in the call of duty. His event¬ 
ful career was ended jSfov. 11, 
1907, when he passed peacefully 
away at Salt Lake City.’' 

“Telegram from Col. Robert 
T. Burton. 

“Deer Creek, May 16, 1862. 
“Governor Fuller: 

“My detachment arrived here 



Henry Heath 


yesterday at 3 p. m. Encounter¬ 
ing no difficulty, saye that 
caused by snow and mud, etc. 
We have seen no Indians on the 
route; found all the mail sta¬ 
tions from Green River to this 
point deserted, all stock having 
been stolen or removed and 
other property abandoned to the 
mercy of Indians or white men. 

“We found at the Ice Springs 
Station, which had been robbed 



134 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


on the night of the 27th, a large 
lock mail—twenty-six sacks, a 
great portion of which had been 
cut open and scattered over the 
prairie. Letters had been opened 
and pillaged, showing conclu¬ 
sively that some renegade whites 
were connected with the Indians 
in the robbery. The mail mat¬ 
ter after being carefully collected 
and placed in the sacks, I have 
conveyed to this point, also ten 
other sacks of lock mail, from 
the Three Crossings: all of 
which will be turned over to the 
mail agent at Lapareil. Twenty 
miles from this we will meet 
men from the East for this pur¬ 
pose. The United States troops 
from the East will be in this 
vicinity tomorrow: and unless 


otherwise directed by yourself, 
or Gen. Wells, I will return im¬ 
mediately halting on the Sweet 
Water to investigate still 
farther into the causes of the 
difficulty, as I have not been 
able to learn who or what In¬ 
dians positively have been en¬ 
gaged in the matter but suppose 
it to be a band of about thirty 
renegade Snake and Bannocks 
from the North. Some of the 
party spoke English plainly, 
and one the German language. 

“Hon. W. H. Hooper and 
Mr. C. W. West, will take pass¬ 
age in the coach that comes for 
the mail. 

“Robert T. Burton, 
“Commanding.” 


NATIONAL GRAND ARMY 
ENCAMPMENT 
Salt Lake City J909 
The National G. A. R. En¬ 
campment was held at Salt Lake 
City, August, 1909. The events 
that transpired during the week 
of Grand reunion, greetings of 
old friends and the making of 
new friends, are well expressed 
in an article written by Emma 
.Ramsey Morris. 

I therefore present a few ex¬ 
tracts from her article in the 
Young Womans Journal, Oc¬ 
tober, 1909. 



Col. Henry M. Nevius 

Commander-in-Chief of the Grand 
Army of the Republic Encampment 
at Salt Lake City, Aug. 9th to 14th, 
1909. 

REMINISCENCES OF THE 
G. A. R. ENCAMPMENT 

Emma Ramsey Mortis 
In the great blaze of patriotic 


glory the 43rd National En¬ 
campment of the Grand Army 
of the Republic, was heralded 
to the thousands of citizens who 
were waiting to do honor to the 
heroes of a past generation. And 
with a final flourish of brilliant 
receptions, campfires, and con¬ 
certs, the Encampment took its 
rank in the annals of past his¬ 
tory as one of the most success¬ 
ful of its kind. 

The visiting hosts have gone 
away with warmer feelings and 
deeper regard than they ever ex¬ 
pected to have for us. There is 
no doubt but that Utah has 
been greatly benefited by the 
Encampment. 

Thousands of people came 
here from all over the United 
States. 

They learned the real mean¬ 
ing of Western hospitality, and 
were completely charmed by it. 
Dozens of people who had at¬ 
tended as many as thirty Na¬ 
tional Encampments were heard 
to say that Salt Lake had out¬ 
done all the other cities in al¬ 
most every particular. 

Never in any city have the 
old soldiers been shown more 
reverence and love, more appre¬ 
ciation, or more honor for their 
past sacrifices. Their short so¬ 
journ here with us has been a 
great object lesson to old and 
young, and has impressed upon 
all minds, more than years of 
teaching out of books could do, 
the value to the country of the 
Grand Army of the Republic. 

As long as life lasts, not one 
of us will ever forget the sight 





136 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


of that great parade of scarred 
and grizzled veterans; many 
almost tottering with age and 
weakness, yet striving to assume 
the firm step and erect bearing 
and to march as proudly as in 
the days of ’61-’65, when to the 
stirring music of the same old 
fife and drum, they went forth 
to the call of their country, to 
lay down their lives, if need be, 
that the Union might not die, 
and that the vital principles of 
eternal liberty might be firmly 
established. “Greater love hath 
no man than this.” 

“I had the honor of enter¬ 
taining the old fife and drum 
corps of '61. Never shall I for¬ 
get that day. I think the old 
veterans who were present will 
not forget it either for I have re¬ 
ceived many letters and papers 
from them since they left, all 
expressive of their enjoyment 
and appreciation of the occasion 
and of the cordial reception gen¬ 
erally given them by the people 
of Salt Lake. Among many 
papers, I have received from the 
different veterans, is one from 
Dr. Herron of Ohio, who says 
in his excellent article in the 
“Chronicle:” 

“Never in all the years of its 
existence has the Grand Army 
had a National Encampment re¬ 
view that surpassed this one in 
spectacular and pathetic features. 
The great review was excellent¬ 
ly managed. * * * Salt Lake 
City has thrown open her arms 
to the old soldiers, and never 
has the Grand Army been more 
enthusiastically received or more 
generously entertained. All are 


unanimous in their praise. 
Nothing that loving thought¬ 
fulness could suggest has been 
overlooked in the effort to make 
the visitors comfortable and to 
provide for their entertainment. 
The decoration of the city has 
been on a lavish scale. If the 
people of this State and City 
have their way, this encamp¬ 
ment will be remembered by 
the veterans as one of their 
pleasantest and most successful 
annual gatherings.” 

I am also in receipt of an ex¬ 
cellent newspaper article from 
the Webster City Tribune of 
Iowa, written by Comrade J. 
N. Iliff. Among many other 
complimentary things about 
Salt Lake, he says: 

“It is unanimously conceded 
that the people of Salt Lake 
City have set the pace and far 
outdone any and all former oc¬ 
casions of this kind. 

“There never will be any 
question as to the sincere pa¬ 
triotism of these people for all 
time. Their minds and hearts 
have been open and eager to 
learn, and no one who was here 
at the encampment will ever en¬ 
tertain an opinion to the con¬ 
trary, bow ever much they may 
have heard of the people of Salt 
Lake derogatory to the highest 
type of manhood and woman¬ 
hood.” 

I apologize for mentioning 
the reception I gave to the Na¬ 
tional Association of Civil War 
Musicians, as I do so only to 
show how deeply the old vet¬ 
erans appreciated being enter¬ 
tained in a Mormon home. Not 



“Living Flag" 

Stretched across the street. Street car tracks in center, comprising about 700 children. 

Salt Lake City. 









































138 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


only in mine, but in the? many 
other homes opened to them so 
cordially. After giving me a 
most generous amount of praise 
for the very little I was able to 
do for them, My. IlifF gives the 
following account of the affair, 

“The National Drum Corps 
was given a reception and enter¬ 
tainment by Mrs. Emma Ram¬ 
sey Morris, the daughter of 
George W. Ramsey, who was 
fife major of Company I, 130th 
Illinois Volunteers. * * * She 
sang a number of selections for 
us which were suitable for the 
occasion and faultless in rendi¬ 
tion, and many of the old boys 
wept like children as the senti¬ 
mental and pathetic melodies 
thrilled their very souls. Many 
ladies from nearby came in and 
assisted in making this one of 
the most enjoyable and profit¬ 
able functions of the whole 
week, and one which tended to 
an uplift toward a better life, 
manifestly simple, yet soul pene¬ 
trating. It is visibly noticeable, 
that as the years go by, and the 
more remote grow the tragic 
days of ’61 to '65 the more in¬ 
tense becomes the homage and 
the thankfulness of a nation, 
which is coming to more fully 
realize and appreciate the vol¬ 
untary and priceless service ren¬ 
dered. And in the not far 
distant future, will we acknowl¬ 
edge the brotherhod of man and 
more fully comprehend the fa¬ 
therhood of God, when the 
burdens of life will not seem 
drudgery and many of the dis¬ 
appointments of life will not be 
looked upon as the intrigue of 


personal enemies. After a few 
numbers were rendered by 
visitors and hostess, a cordial 
hand-shake and a ‘God bless 
you,’ were given and we passed 
out playing ‘The Girl I Left Be¬ 
hind Me,” followed by a cheer 
from this Samaritan home, 
which at a distance we answered 
with a shriek of fife and a 
thunderous roll of drum, and 
we wended our way to quar¬ 
ters, mellowed in spirit but en¬ 
larged in heart, bearing away 
delicate souvenirs of respect and 
good will. 

“From all the thousands of 
visitors, nothing will be heard 
but praise of the magnanimous 
treatment afforded by the hos¬ 
pitable people of Salt Lake, and 
I wish to say that the treatment 
we have received here would put 
many of the cities of the East 
to shame in the management of 
the G. A. R. festivals and others 
as well. There is no hypocrisy 
here and the people do not act 
as if they know what it is.” 

Representatives from all over 
the land came here to see for 
themselves just what conditions 
are. They went away surprised 
and delighted beyond all power 
of expression. The generosity 
of the Church officials in ex¬ 
tending the use of the various 
Church buildings, the great 
Tabernacle, Assembly Hall, the 
various ward chapels for meet¬ 
ings and rest rooms, has been 
much appreciated by all our 
visitors. The Eastern papers 
have been full of praise for Prof. 
McClellan. The Tabernacle 
Choir under the direction of 





fUM 




lunv -■ 


v.i'.ivr 



WKmmmmMBmm 

kTVtWi 


wf 


fe|A; A 

r i tu . i 

®4r 

B : gifrt 

8*11 

^®ljl 





jK, if 

av • *-?5fSS g * 

^-’;Tin'jin -^S 



’ V 

* .££ ££» 


hi 

tA?Y.V« 

VaJJi ,**'*‘..ajfe r . -ft" -i 

uT .3 jQBbS&.^ *' 

>r ‘ 




The “Grand Army” Parade 

Passing the Reviewing Stand, National Encampment, Salt Lake City, 1909 





140 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


Professor Stephens also comes in 
for its full share of appreciation 
and enthusiastic comment. In 
fact everything that was done 
for the comfort and entertain¬ 
ment of the thousands who 
came among us, was appreciated 
fully. 

I have been associated with 
the work of the Grand Army, 
and with the veterans them¬ 
selves, all my life. I know them 
and their worth as citizens. I 
know how true and loyal they 
are, and I cannot remember the 
time when my heart did not 
thrill with pride to know that 
my father was one of these loyal 
defenders of the nation. And I 
feel that as long as one of the 
old guard is left as the sacred 
heritage of the nation, just so 
long should we strive to honor 
them and to show by word and 
deed that we appreciate the great 
privileges they won for us at 
such a terrible cost to them¬ 
selves. 

We realize more and more 
their worthy service, and know 
that without it, we would not 
now be enjoying the inestimable 
privileges which are ours today. 

One could not look with dry 
eyes upon that magnificent 
parade of gray haired veterans. 
Strong men wept unashamed at 
sight of those old heroes with 
their bent forms and whitened 
locks. Their steps were falter¬ 
ing, their eyes dimmed by time, 
and yet their worn faces were 
lighted up by the fires of un¬ 
dying patriotism. The dimmed 
eyes grew bright as they rested 
for a moment on the dear flag 
which they had given some of 


the best years of their youth to 
save. 

At sound of the old fife and 
drum that had cheered them 
along many miles of weary 
marching in the old days, their 
steps grew firmer, their bearing 
morie erect ^s they ptrove to 
march as proudly as ever to the 
tune of “The Girl I Left Be¬ 
hind Me.’’ 

The lesson of their service 
was written in their glorified 
countenances, and every patri¬ 
otic heart could not fail to read 
the message. One realized with 
a pang of sadness, that that 
parade was the last for many of 
them. That next year would 
see fewer of the old boys there. 
The veterans themselves realized 
it. Many were heard to remark 
“I never hope to parade again.’’ 
Relentless time is thinning the 
ranks. One by one they are 
answering the call of the Great 
Commander. One by one they 
fail to respond to the reveille. 
Taps are sounded above them, 
and life’s battles for them are 
ended; peace comes to the 
soldiers’ weary heart. A few 
years more and the last member 
of the G. A. R. will have re¬ 
ceived his final marching orders; 
will have gone to witness the 
last grand review. This will 
mean the end of the organiza¬ 
tion of the Grand Army of the 
Republic, but not the end of the 
great work it has accomplished. 
The influence of the lives and 
sacrifices of these men will not 
die, but will live on and on to 
bless and strengthen all those 
who are yet to come. 

At Saltair I gave an im- 



^vWv r v :? 

, 

■U 

■ 

. 

yv= aSsSi 

Ira 

v?^s®=fess3 

1 ; ? : 


iiHSl 


- 


Y ; 


Y.-- : 


- 








' v 




m 




-Wf- 


- 




. 


IS® 




5 a 35 


ri..' 1 . - 


'■■'■•='■ 




Y^YY^V 




- 


SYStSgfiS 









Counter March of the "Grand Army Parade" 

Showing the “Living Flag." National G. A. R. Encampment. Salt Lake City. 





142 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


promptu concert to a large num¬ 
ber of old veterans and their 
friends and sang “The Flag 
Without a Stain." 

Our fondest hope is that the 
National Grand Army Encamp¬ 
ment will visit Salt Lake City 
again. 

VETERANS OF THE 
GRAND ARMY OF 
THE REPUBLIC 

Ruth May Fox, Nat. Pres, of 

the Young Ladies’ Mutual 

Improvement Association 

Seamed and marred in the 
struggle of life 

Scarred with the wounds of a 
Nation’s strife, 

Worn by the marching to drum 
and fife, 

Veterans, we greet you. 

Stalwarts, you came at your 
country’s call; 

Little cared you for powder and 
ball. 

Each by your colors to stand 
or fall. 

Soldiers, we cheer you. 

For the pains you’ve borne, and 
tears you've shed 
Solemnly bowed o’er the na¬ 
tion’s dead, 

For freedom’s cause in which 
you bled, 

Heroes, we hail you. 


For the broken homes, and 
widows’ cries, 

Which vexed the earth, and 
pierced the skies; 

For mouldering heaps, where 
devotion lies, 

Utah mourns with you. 

For your battles lost or battles 
won,— 

At Gettysburg, or at dark Bull- 
Run, 

For Sherman, Grant, and re¬ 
vered Lincoln, 

Utah salutes you. 

Her once barren vales, bloom 
now for you, 

She bids you tent ’neath her 
spangled blue, 

And drink from streams, which 
ever renew 

From life-giving fountains,— 

Forth gushing from mighty, 
hoary peaks, 

Where snow-drifts nestle, and 
thunder speaks, 

Where the lofty pine-top sways 
and creaks, 

In the fresh’ning breeze. 

Her wonderful inland sea awaits 

Your presence at our western 
gates, 

Where the sun shines through 
and varigates 
The billowy sky,— 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


143 


Casting a shimmering trail of 
gold 

With which to crown our war¬ 
riors bold, 

She glints for you the lake and 
wold, 

While the wavelets sing. 


Your glorious wreathes shall 
never fade 

While mountains tower above 
the glade, 

Or rain descends on flower and 
blade, 

Or the stars endure. 


Peace broods over your columns 
today, 

Floats with your flag to lands 
far away, 

Our flag, which floats for blue 
and for gray, 

And liberty true. 


You saved the Union, by God’s 
grace, 

And caught the radiance from 
His face 

In the starry folds, which holds 
the race 

To glory in Old Glory. 


LADIES OF THE GRAND 
ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC 

Margaret M. Fisher 

The history of Utah's par¬ 
ticipation in the American Civil 
War would be incomplete with¬ 
out a chapter devoted to the 
Ladies of the Grand Army of 
the Republic: 

to the Wives and Daughters 
of the brave patriots, enlisted 
from Utah in 1862. 

In the summer of 1909 the 
Utah Civil War man had not 
been received into the ranks of 
the Grand Army. Although 
many had applied for member¬ 
ship, only two, Charles Cris- 
mon, Jr., and Dr. Harvey C. 
Hullinger, had been allowed ad¬ 
mittance into the Utah G. A. 
R. Posts, which were comprised 
of men who had enlisted in 
other states but had later taken 
up residence in Utah. 

Standing out prominently 
among the descendants of the 
Utah Volunteers as one anx¬ 
iously awaiting the time when 
the Utah Volunteers would be 
admitted into the rank and file 
of the Grand Army Posts of 
Utah, was Mrs. Nellie L. Lyon, 
daughter of Moroni Woodruff 
Alexander. An ardent and Pa¬ 
triotic worker in the Ladies’ or¬ 
ganization of the Grand Army 
of the Republic, Mrs. Lyon was 
born, Nov. 29, 1874 at Wash¬ 
ington City, Washington Coun¬ 
ty, Utah. Some twenty years 
later (March 16, 1893) she 


married Dr. Frank James Lyon 
in Provo, Utah. 

She was living with her hus¬ 
band and children in Salt Lake 
City at the time the Grand 
Army of the Republic held their 
National encampment at Salt 
Lake City. 

The brave defenders of our 
union were welcomed into our 
midst, shown every courtesy 
while here, and departed well- 
pleased with the reception they 
had received. 

The Ladies of the Grand 
Army, the wives and daughters 
of the comrades, from many 
parts of the union came to Salt 
Lake City with the old soldiers. 

Mrs. Della R. Henry, a dele¬ 
gate to the National Encamp¬ 
ment from Missouri, arrived at 
Salt Lake City in due time to 
participate in the activities of 
the Ladies’ Organization. 

She made the statement that 
during her sojourn in Salt Lake 
City with that encampment, she 
received the greatest honor that 
could be bestowed upon an 
American woman. She became 
the National president of the 
Ladies of the Grand Army of 
the Republic. 

Before leaving Salt Lake 
City, her attention and sym¬ 
pathy were drawn toward a 
little band of hardy pioneers, 
Civil War veterans, who fought 
under Lincoln. The Lot Smith 
Company, Utah Volunteers, 
who although eligible to be¬ 
come members of the Grand 
Army of the Republic, had been 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


145 


denied that privilege because of 
religious differences. 

Mrs. Henry, the National 
President, met Mrs. Lyon and 
was pleased with her. Mrs. 
Henry appointed Mrs. Lyon on 
her National Staff. Mrs. Lyon 
became National Organizer. 
There were two circles of the 
Ladies of the G. A. R. in Utah 
at that time: Reynolds Circle 
of Salt Lake City, and Lincoln 
Circle of Ogden. 

Five circles were necessary to 
form a Department. 

Mrs. Nellie L. Lyon dis¬ 
played the rare ability she pos¬ 
sessed as an organizer when, 
within two days after receiving 
the appointment of National 
Organizer, she presented a 
new circle to the Nation¬ 
al President for installation. 
The James C. Rice Circle No. 
3 and later the Gordon Circle 
No. 4 of Utah. 

In 1910 under orders of the 
National President, Della R. 
Henry, Mrs. Lyon organized 
the Lot Smith Circle No. 5, 
Ladies of the Utah Volunteers. 
Immediately a great furore arose 
in the state between those who 
favored the new organization of 
the wives and daughters of the 
Utah volunteers, and those who 
were opposed to giving the 
“Mormons” recognition. 

All this brought on some 
very trying times for the Na¬ 
tional President, and the Na¬ 
tional Organizer, and to all 
members of the Grand Army in 
Utah who wished to see justice 
done to the Utah Volunteers. 

The following June, Nation¬ 
al President Mrs. Della R. Hen¬ 


ry returned to Utah to the G. 
A. R. State Encampment. She 
came with the intention of or¬ 
ganizing a Department of the 
Ladies of the Grand Army in 
the state of Utah, and bringing 
in the Ladies of the Utah Vol¬ 
unteers and trying to restore 
peace. With her she brought 
papers from the Dept, of War, 
Washington, D. C., which 
proved the eligibility of the Lot 
Smith men and justified her in¬ 
tention. 

While in Utah, Della R. 
Henry organized the U. S. 
Grant Circle No. 6. This made 
six circles in the State of Utah, 
four in Salt Lake City and two 
in Ogden. Five circles were 
necessary in order to organize 
a Department. 

“Three Circles and a Depart¬ 
ment” to Mrs. Della R. Henry’s 
credit since the National En¬ 
campment nine months before 
at Salt Lake City. Surely Utah 
was exerting herself to the ut¬ 
most, in return for the honor 
bestowed upon her; the coming 
of the brave soldiers to Utah, 
Civil War heroes. 

The Ladies of the Grand 
Army Department of Utah was 
formed, five circles were admit¬ 
ted. 

The opposing faction request¬ 
ed of Mrs. Henry time in which 
to think over the admission of 
the Lot Smith Circle into the 
Department of Utah, asking 
that they be not admitted until 
after the National Encampment 
of the Grand Army of the Re¬ 
public to be held in September, 
1910, at Atlantic City, New 
Jersey. Della R. Henry granted 


146 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


their request. The Lot Smith 
Circle was not admitted at that 
time into the Department of 
Utah. 

The Department of Utah 
Grand Army of the Republic 
held a “Court of Inquiry” to 


National President, Della R. 
Henry, with a silver loving cup 
for the good work she had done 
for the Department of Utah, 
Ladies of the Grand Army of 
the Republic. 

On one face of the cup was 



Silver Loving Cup 

Presented to the National President of the Ladies of 
the Grand Army of the Republic, Della R. Henry, who did 
such splendid work for the Dept, of Utah, Ladies of the G. 


A. R. and the Lot Smith circle 

determine whether or not the 
Lot Smith Company was el¬ 
igible for membership. 

The findings of the Court of 
Inquiry were in favor of the 
Utah Volunteers. At the Na¬ 
tional Encampment in Septem¬ 
ber, held at Atlantic City, the 
Ladies of Utah presented the 


in particular. 

“Old Glory” enameled in the 
tri-colors with the inscription, 
“The Flag without a Stain”. 
On the other face of the cup, 
a cluster of Sego Lilies in “bass- 
relief” with an inscription to 
Mrs. Henry. The lilies were 
designed by Mrs. Margaret M. 
Fisher, President of the Lot 



UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


147 


Smith Circle. Mrs. Nellie L. 
Lyon, Delegate at Large, from 
Utah, was present to see the cup 
presented and needless to say 
tears were shed by the National 
President and Nellie L. Lyon. 
Mrs. Lyon said, “I have worked 
so hard for the Ladies of the 
Grand Army in Utah, the Lot 
Smith Company in particular, 
because of the love which I hold 
for my noble father; I have done 
all this for him, and I dedicate 
it to his memory. He was with 
the first volunteers to enlist 
from Utah into the service of 
the United States. These are 
the only Civil War Veterans 
Utah can claim. The citizens 
of Utah should unite in hon¬ 
oring their memory and show¬ 
ing appreciation to those of that 
company who yet remain, and 
to all veterans of the Civil War 
where ever they may be.” 

Department President, Ellen- 
or B. Burns, in whose hands 
now lay the power to bestow 
the Charter to the Lot Smith 
Circle, in November, 1910, 
changed the name of the circle 
to the General George Washing¬ 
ton Circle No. 6, Department of 
Utah, Ladies of the G. A. R. 
and chartered them. 

The department of Utah G. 
A. R. and Ladies of the G. 
A. R. objected to the name of 
‘‘Lot Smith” because of the 
claim through some misunder¬ 
standing that Lot Smith had 
taken up arms against the Gov¬ 
ernment. A brief explanation 
of this incident follows: 

Lot Smith was active in what 
is known as the ‘‘Mormon 
War.” His connection with 


this affair is sometimes referred 
to by the uninformed as proof 
that he was disloyal to the 
United States Government. To 
meet this unjust criticism it is 
proper to give the true facts re¬ 
lating to Smith’s participation 
in that difficulty. In 1856, W. 
W. Drummond succeeded Jus¬ 
tice Shaver in the Supreme 
Court of Utah. Drum¬ 
mond, before coming west, 
abandoned his wife and chil¬ 
dren in Illinois. He brought 
with him to Utah a common 
courtesan. Upon his arrival in 
the territory, he introduced her 
as his wife. It happened that 
a friend of Drummond’s, who 
knew him and his family in the 
East, was residing in Utah. 
When he was introduced to the 
alleged Mrs. Drummond, he dis¬ 
covered that something was 
wrong. He made known to the 
people what he knew about the 
judge’s family in the East. 

People of the entire territory, 
both members of the Church 
and non-members, became in¬ 
dignant. Their indignation was 
intensified by the brazenness of 
Justice Drummond in taking 
this woman of the street with 
him to all parts of the territory. 
He even had her sit with him 
on the bench while he lectured 
the Mormons on being ignorant 
and unvirtuous. The sentiment 
against Drummond became so 
intense, that he decided to aban¬ 
don his office and return to the 
East. He left clandestinely for 
San Francisco, where he took 
boat around Cape Horn. Upon 
his arrival at New Orleans, 
March 30, 1857, he wrote U. 


148 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


S. Attorney-General Jeremiah 
Black announcing his resigna¬ 
tion as Justice of the Supreme 
Court of Utah, and made gross¬ 
ly false charges against the lead¬ 
ers of the Mormon people. In 
his lengthy statement he charg¬ 
ed that Brigham Young was 
the only recognized authority 
in the territory; that the Church 
was an oath-bound organiza¬ 
tion which disregarded the 
rights of all non-members; and 
that at the instance of Brigham 
Young the records of the Su¬ 
preme Court had been de¬ 
stroyed. In conclusion he sug¬ 
gested that a new set of terri¬ 
torial officials be sent to Utah 
with a sufficient military guard. 

Curtis E. Bolton, Clerk of 
the Supreme Court of Utah, and 
a non-Mormon, was apprized 
of the false report which Justice 
Drummond had made. On June 
26, 1857, he made affidavit, de¬ 
nying the charges made by Jus¬ 
tice Drummond, especially the 
charge that the records of the 
Court had been destroyed. This 
affidavit was transmitted to At¬ 
torney-General Black, but un¬ 
fortunately before it reached 
Washington an army had start¬ 
ed its march to Utah. 

The news of the coming 
army reached Salt Lake City 
July 24, 1857, while Pres. 

Brigham Young and a large 
company of saints, were cele¬ 
brating Pioneer Day at Bright¬ 
on. Brigham Young at that 
time was governor of the ter¬ 
ritory. He and the rest of the 
leaders of the Church knew of 
the false reports which had 


been circulated by carpet bag 
politicians. These politicians 
had forsaken their offices of the 
territory, and were responsible 
for the coming of the army. He 
determined that the army should 
not enter Salt Lake City. Under 
the circumstances, this was the 
most humane course that could 
have been adopted. For if the 
troops had been permitted to 
enter the city, bloodshed would 
have been inevitable. 

General Daniel H. Wells, un¬ 
der the direction of Governor 
Young, enlisted all the able 
bodied men in the territory for 
military service. They marched 
to Echo Canyon, where head¬ 
quarters were established for the 
purpose of defense. Captain Lot 
Smith received strict orders from 
Governor Young to keep back 
the on-coming army of ten thou¬ 
sand men, and not shed one 
drop of blood. Upon receiving 
the order, Lot Smith exclaimed: 
“How can I do it?” President 
Young replied, “I do not care 
how you do it; just so it is 
done.” The active officers of 
the militia were directed to send 
out scouting parties from head¬ 
quarters at Echo Canyon to 
harass the army by burning the 
grass before and behind them; 
stampede their cattle and horses, 
and destroy their food trains, 
and thereby prevent their march 
to Utah. Captain Lot Smith 
had charge of one of these scout¬ 
ing parties, numbering twenty- 
six. Under his direction one 
train was surrounded early on 
the morning of the 5 th of No¬ 
vember. After dismissing the 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


149 


men with a heavily loaded wag¬ 
on of provisions for their sus¬ 
tenance, and turning them back 
in the direction of the approach¬ 
ing army, the train was fired 
and all wagons and contents 
destroyed on Big Sandy. The 
same treatment was accorded 
train No. 2, in the evening of 
that day on Little Sandy. Later 
Capt. Smith turned his atten¬ 
tion to the third and largest 
train consisting of thirty-six 
wagons, which he fired at Ash- 
hollow. He did all this with¬ 
out the firing of a gun, or the 
loss of a single life. 

This may well be considered 
as one of the ablest movements 
of the army of defense instituted 
by the “Mormon” people. 

Captain Lot Smith will ever 
stand out prominent as the one 
man who did more to check 
the army and prevent its ad¬ 
vance into Salt Lake valley in 
1857, than any other man save 
it be Brigham Young, under 
whose orders he was acting. 

He and his company of scouts 
within ten days captured and 
burned three of the largest food 
trains. When the news of the de¬ 
struction of these trains reached 
Colonel Albert Sidney Johns¬ 
ton, commanding officer of the 
army, he called a council of 
his officers, and advised that 
they go into Winter Quarters 
on Ham’s Fork on the Green 
River. 

The bold and daring stroke 
of Captain Smith and his little 
company prevented a clash be¬ 
tween the misguided army and 
the Mormons. It must be re¬ 


membered that an army of that 
day was not the scrupulous and 
mannerly army of today, and 
much evil might easily have been 
expected of them. 

In March, 1858, a commis¬ 
sion arrived from Washington, 
consisting of Van Fleet and 
Colonel Morris of Texas. La¬ 
ter Colonel Thomas L. Kane, 
a warm friend of the Mor¬ 
mons, arrived. He brought a 
message of peace to the Mor¬ 
mon people from President Bu¬ 
chanan, with a promise that the 
army would not molest them. 
The whole thing resulted in a 
peace and a pardon Proclama¬ 
tion by Pres. James Buchanan. A 
treaty arrangement was entered 
into between Colonel Thomas 
L. Kane, representing President 
Buchanan and President Brig¬ 
ham Young, representing the 
Mormon people, under the 
terms of which the army was 
permitted to march peacefully 
through Salt Lake valley, with¬ 
out making any encampment 
until they reached a designated 
point in Cedar valley, some for¬ 
ty-five miles southwest of Salt 
Lake City. Thus was ended 
what is known to informed 
historians as “Buchanan’s Blun¬ 
der.” 

Colonel Albert Sidney Johns¬ 
ton, with the greater part of his 
flowery army that marched to 
Utah, upon their return to the 
East joined with the Confed¬ 
eracy. Colonel Johnston was 
killed in action at the battle of 
Shilo, fighting against the 
Union. On the other hand Cap¬ 
tain Lot Smith enlisted under 


150 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


Government Service with the re¬ 
sults as they have been recorded. 

“There was something of grim 
humor in the make up of Brig¬ 
ham Young. Inflexible as he 
was in his determination not to 
let a hostile army set foot upon 
the soil of Salt Lake valley, even 
though that army was ordered 
here unconstitutionally by the 
President of the United States, 
he knew what the final verdict 
of his country would be. It 
was not a small matter to defy 
the forces of the Federal Gov¬ 
ernment, but there was a worse 
horror, and he had witnessed it 
in the murders, the assassina¬ 
tions and pillagings of Missouri 
and Illinois. But his far seeing 
eye must have caught the conta¬ 
gion of ridicule that would fol¬ 
low Buchanan’s fiasco, if he 
could stave off hostilities long 
enough to permit the American 
people to see the stupendousness 
of the folly. The ripple of de¬ 
rision that spread across the con¬ 
tinent at the acts of the presi¬ 
dent when the people did finally 
awake, attests the wisdom of the 
“Mormon” leader .—Charles R. 
Mabey, Governor of Utah, 
1921-25. 

It can plainly be seen that 
good results quickly followed 
in the wake of the National 
Encampment.. That soul-stir¬ 
ring Patriotic organization: 
The Grand Army of the Re¬ 
public, did well to visit the city 
of Salt Lake and wonderful re¬ 
sults were produced. 

Distinctive among these are 
the following happenings: 


The Organization of a Grand 
Army Post. 

Organization of Circles of the 
Ladies of the Grand Army. 

Organization of a Depart¬ 
ment Ladies of the Grand Army. 

The publication of this book 
of historical record. 



ORGANIZATION OF THE 
JOHN QUINCY KNOWL- 
TON POST, GRAND ARMY 
OF THE REPUBLIC, DE¬ 
PARTMENT OF UTAH 

Salt Lake City, Utah, 
The John Quincy Knowlton 
Post, G. A. R., was organized 
October 9th, 1911, at the Bish¬ 
op’s Building, Seventy’s Rooms, 
under the direction of A. B. 
Lawrence, Department Com¬ 
mander of the G. A. R. of Utah, 
R. G. Slater officiating. Officers 
installed by H. P. Burns of the 
Department of Utah. It was 
to be known as the John 
Quincy Knowlton Post, Num¬ 
ber 8, Grand Army of the Re¬ 
public, Department of Utah, 
with the following officers:— 
Post Commander—Seymour 
B. Young. 




UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


151 


Senior Vice-Commander— 
Solomon H. Hale. 

Junior Vice-Commander— 
Joseph A. Fisher. 

Chaplain—Louis A. Huf- 
faker. 

Quarter Master General— 
James Isaac Atkinson. 

Officer of the Day—John H. 
Walker. 

There were also present mem¬ 
bers of the Lot Smith Com¬ 
pany, Utah Volunteers of 1862, 
as follows: 

Richard Howe. 

William A. Bringhurst. 

Edwin Brown. 

Moses W. Gibson. 

Evert Covert. 

There were also present 25 
ladies, wives and descendants of 
the Lot Smith Company, mem¬ 
bers of the General George 
Washington Circle, Ladies of 
the G. A. R. 

The Charter was granted Oc¬ 
tober 23rd, 1911, by Depart¬ 
ment Commander Adley B. 
Lawrence. 

Since that time the following 
members of the Lot Smith Com¬ 
pany have become members of 
the John Quincy Knowlton 
Post: 

Josiah Eardley. 

John H. Standiford. 

E. Malin Weiler. 

Thomas Harris. 

Allie S. Rose. 

Powell Johnson. 

John Neff. 

Ephraim H. Williams. 

Louis L. Polmantur. 

Hiram Kimball. 

Albert Davis. 

I will explain here why the 
G. A. R. Post composed of 


Utah volunteers, under Captain 
Lot Smith was called “The 
John Quincy Knowlton Post." 
It is customary in the Organiza¬ 
tion of the Grand Army to 
name a newly formed Post after 
a departed officer, who served in 
the Civil War. The Utah vol¬ 
unteers were very anxious to call 
their Post after the name of 
their captain, “Lot Smith," but 
owing to the fact that Lot 
Smith burnt the supplies be¬ 
longing to Albert Sidney Johns¬ 
ton’s expedition against the 
Utah people in 1857, and the 
1st Lieutenant Joseph S. Raw¬ 
lins being present also with Lot 
Smith on that memorable oc¬ 
casion, the members of the Post 
passed by the names of these 
two mentioned officers and se¬ 
lected the name John Quincy 
Knowlton. 

John Quincy Knowlton was 
not out to assist Lot Smith in 
the destruction of the supply 
trains belonging to the Govern¬ 
ment ; and the Grand Army 
members who opposed the other 
two names offered no objection 
to the name of John Quincy 
Knowlton. Knowlton was the 
Second Lieutenant of the Lot 
Smith Company of 1862. 

Lot Smith did not take up 
arms against the Government. 
There was no rebellion in Utah 
by the people, the sending of 
United States troops to quell the 
supposed revolt was unnecessary 
and President Buchanan’s par¬ 
don superfluous. If such had 
not been the case, instead of 
receiving an unsolicited pardon 
from the President of the 
United States, the Mormon peo- 


152 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


pie would have been held to 
answer for their misconduct, 
and peace could not have been 
restored so quickly and easily. 

Little space can be given this 
subject in this book, as these 
pages are written more partic¬ 
ularly to give an account of the 
Civil War expeditions from 
Utah. 

I therefore refer you to 
Whitney’s “History of Utah’’ 
where more explicit detail re¬ 
garding “Johnston’s Expedi¬ 
tion’’ can be obtained. 

ORGANIZATION OF THE 
LOT SMITH CIRCLE, LA¬ 
DIES OF THE GRAND AR¬ 
MY OF THE REPUBLIC. 

Salt Lake City, Utah, 
April 5th, 1910. 

The Lot Smith Circle, ladies 
of the G. A. R., was organized 
by Nellie L. Lyon, daughter of 
Moroni Woodruff Alexander, 
member of the Lot Smith Com¬ 
pany, under the orders of the 
National President, Della R. 
Henry, Ladies of the Grand 
Army of the Republic, called 
the Lot Smith Circle, number 
5, Ladies of the G. A. R., De¬ 
partment of Utah. 

The Department of Utah was 
organized June 11th, 1910, by 
National President Della R. 
Henry. 

Lot Smith Circle was insti¬ 
tuted and installed April 5 th, 
1910, at the Brigham Young 
Memorial Building, Salt Lake 
City, by Mrs. Mary J. Hoag, 
assisted by Mrs. Mary Groven- 
or,. Ladies of the Grand Army 
of the Republic, under the di¬ 


rection of Mrs. Nellie L. Lyon, 
National Organizer, with the 
following officers:— 

President—Mrs. Joseph A. 
Fisher. 

Senior Vice President—Cora 
Fisher Smith. 

Junior Vice President—Mrs. 
Ruth Cornia. 

Chaplain—Mrs. Moroni W. 
Alexander. 

Secretary—Mrs. Charles *Cris- 
mon, Jr. 

Treasurer—Mrs. Francis Platt. 

Conductor—Mrs. Nellie Sor¬ 
enson. 

Delegate to Department—Mrs. 
Ella F. Squires. 

Alternate Delegate—Mrs. Har¬ 
riet Davis. 

Many of the veterans of the 
Lot Smith Company were pres¬ 
ent. 

ORGANIZATION OF THE 
GEN. GEORGE WASHING¬ 
TON CIRCLE NO. 6, LA¬ 
DIES OF THE GRAND AR¬ 
MY OF THE REPUBLIC, 
DEPARTMENT OF UTAH. 

Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Nov. 9th, 1910. 

The Lot Smith Circle, Ladies 
of the G. A. R. was re-organ¬ 
ized November 9th, 1910, and 
the Charter issued by Ellenor 
B. Burns, president of the De¬ 
partment of Utah, Ladies of 
the G. A. R., at the home of 
Comrade Joseph A. Fisher, 
724 East 21st South, Salt Lake 
City, Utah, known hereafter as 
the General George Washington 
Circle, Number 6, Ladies of the 
Grand Army of the Republic. 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


153 



Department of Utah, with the 
following officers:— 

President-Mrs. Margaret M. 
Fisher. 

Senior Vice-President—Mrs. 
Ella Fisher Squires. 

Junior Vice-President—Mrs. 
F. M. Bishop. 

Chaplain—Mrs. Martha Al¬ 
exander. 

Treasurer—Mrs. Cora Fisher 
Smith. 

Conductor—Mrs. Lydia J. 
Perry. 

Guard—Mrs. Emaline Sprowl. 
Delegate to Department— 
Mrs. Elizabeth T. C. Crismon. 
Alternate Delegate—Mrs. Mary 
F. Rawlins. 

These with Mrs. John Ben- 
nion were the Charter members. 
Also present, Comrade Joseph 
A. Fisher, John Neff and Mrs. 
Nellie L. Lyon, National Or¬ 
ganizer. 


ELLENOR B. BURNS 

Ellenor B. Burns, First De¬ 
partment President of Utah, La¬ 
dies of the Grand Army of the 
Republic, who served from the 
Spring of 1910 to the Spring 
of 1911, reorganized the Lot 
Smith Circle, called, the new 
Circle the Gen. George Wash¬ 
ington Circle, and issued their 
Charter. 



Ellenor B. Burns 

1st Dept. Pres. Ladies of the G. A. R. 
of Utah 


ORGANIZATION OF THE 
JOHN QUINCY KNOWL- 
TON CIRCLE, LADIES OF 
THE GRAND ARMY OF 
THE REPUBLIC 

The John Quincy Knowlton 
Circle, Ladies of the Grand Ar¬ 
my of the Republic, Number 
7, Department of Utah, was or¬ 
ganized by Margaret M. Fisher 





154 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


June 1st, 1912, at Farmington, 
Davis Co., Utah. 



Effie Smith Palmer 

Daughter of Capt. Lot Smith 


Mrs. Elizabeth Passler, de¬ 
partment president, issued the 
Charter, June 28th, 1912. Past 
Department President, Mary E. 
Wells, installed the officers as 
follows:— 

President—Mrs. Effie Smith 
Palmer. 

Senior Vice President—An¬ 
nie Smith Perry. 

Junior Vice President—Phe- 
obe Smith Parrish. 

Secretary—Judith Steed. 

Treasurer—Nettie Brown. 

Chaplain—Clara W. Steed. 

Patriotic Instructor—Linnie 
G. Richardson. 

Margaret S. Palmer. 

Leone Steed. 

Laura Bayliss. 

Annie R. Wilcox, charter 
members. 


THE ORGANIZATION OF 
THE SEYMOUR B. YOUNG 
CIRCLE NO. 10, LADIES OF 
THE GRAND ARMY OF 
THE REPUBLIC, DEPT. OF 
UTAH 

This Circle was organized 
February 22, 1926, at the home 
of Mrs. Margaret M. Fisher, 
724 East 21st South, Salt Lake 
City, Utah, by Department 
President Margaret M. Fisher, 
assisted by National Assistant 
Corresponding Secretary Mary 
C. MacKay and Miss Joseph¬ 
ine Fisher. 

It was instituted and installed 
with the following officers: 

President — Mrs. Minerva 
Fisher Miller. 

Sr. Vice-pres.—Mary Ben- 
nion Cannon. 

Jr. Vice-pres—Hope Spencer. 

Secretary—Abbie Josephine 
Fisher. 

Treasurer—Louie Gill Rich¬ 
ards. 

Chaplain—Arietta Lemmon. 

Patriotic Instructor — Ruth 
Claire Taylor. 

Conductor—lone Spencer. 

Asst Conductor, Janice 
Young Wells. 

Guard—Melba Smith. 

These were Charter members 
together with: 

Mary Taylor. 

Phyllic Wells. 

Hortense Spencer. 

Ruth Taylor. 

Mary Taylor Richards. 

Mary Joy Richards. 

Martha Richards Eldredge. 

Sarah Castle. 

Department Secretary—Susie 
Moore and Department Treas- 




UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


155 


urer—Cora F. Smith, were 
present at the organization. 

JOSEPH S. RAWLINS 
CIRCLE 

Organization of the Joseph 
S. Rawlins Circle, No. 11, La¬ 
dies of the Grand Army of the 
Republic, Dept, of Utah, or¬ 
ganized April 1, 1926, by De¬ 
partment President Margaret M. 
Fisher, assisted by National 
Asst. Corresponding Secretary, 
Mary C. MacKay. 

It was instituted and installed 
by Department President Mar¬ 
garet M. Fisher, with the fol¬ 
lowing members:— 

President—June W. Kasteler. 

Sr. Vice-pres.—Sarah Brown 
Williams. 



Minerva Miller 

Jr. Vice-pres. Martha Park 
Hulse. 

Chaplain—Ella W. Crox- 
ford. 


Secretary—Lyle Miller Berry. 
Treasurer—Emily Caldwell, 



June Kasteler 


Patriotic Instructor—Goldie 
Brown Wale. 

Conductor — Florence Mc¬ 
Namara. 

Asst. Conductor—L u c i 1 e 
Caldwell. 

Guard—Geneva Caldwell. 

Asst. Guard—Lottie Turner. 

These, with the following, 
were Charter members: 

Chairman of the Relief Com¬ 
mittee—Lillie Wright. 

Lorraine W. Bentz. 

Geraldine Blackburn. 

Hazel Walters. 

Desdemona Brown. 

Margaret Miller. 

Helen Mar Bennion—Organ¬ 
ist. 

Emma Jane Bennion. 

Nila Wright. 

Della Lindblade. 

Irene Webster. 

This organization took place 






156 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 



Adley B. Lawrence 

Past Dept. Commander G. A. R. 
Dept, of Utah. 

at the home of Mrs. Margaret 
Miller, 4564 South State St., 
Murray, Utah. Mrs. Miller was 
the wife of Reuben P. Miller 
of the Lot Smith Company. 

ORGANIZATION OF THE 
ADLEY B. LAWRENCE 
CIRCLE NO. 13, LADIES OF 
THE GRAND ARMY OF 
THE REPUBLIC, DEPT. OF 
UTAH 

This Circle was organized 
by Dept. President Margaret M. 
Fisher, May 17, 1926, at the 
home of Mrs. Sarah Burnham, 
Draper, Utah. Department 
President Mrs. Fisher installed 
the officers as follows: 

President—Mrs. Jennie Bo- 
berg. 

Sr. Vice-pres.—Lilly Raw¬ 
lins Brown. 

Jr. Vice-pres.—Annie M. 
Terry. 


Chaplain—Mrs. Sarah Vaudrey 
Burnham. 

Secretary—Melva Alden Day. 

T reasurer—Cora Brown 
Smith. 

Chorister—Pauletta Terry 
Burnham. 

Conductor—Lorna Allen. 

Patriotic Instructor—J a n e 
Cotterel Snow. 

Asst. Cond. Iona Smith Nel¬ 
son. 

Guard — Hannah Rawlins 
Terry. 

These were Charter members. 

The circle was named in hon¬ 
or oh the Past Department Com¬ 
mander, Adley B. Lawrence. 

The wife of the departed 
commander generously present¬ 
ed the Circle with the Bible, 
several flags to be used in their 
floor work, flag rest, etc. 

DEDICATION OF THE 
SITE FOR A MONUMENT 
TO THE CAPTAIN LOT 
SMITH COMPANY. AND 
THE COLONEL ROBERT 
T. BURTON COMPANY, 
UTAH VOLUNTEERS, ON 
THE STATE CAPITAL 
GROUNDS 

On Memorial Day, May 30, 
1923, the ground upon which 
to erect a beautiful monument 
in honor of the Utah men who 
served in the Civil War was ded¬ 
icated. The spot was ideal and 
was selected by the Secretary of 
State, Hon. H. E. Crockett. It 
is situated on the Capitol 
grounds, just northeast of the 
Capitol Building. The dedi¬ 
catory prayer was offered on the 
spot selected. The rest of the 
exercises, owing to bad weather. 







UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


157 


were carried on just inside of the 
east entrance to the Capitol 
Building. Those who partici¬ 
pated were in plain view of the 
site selected, which had been 
marked off with sixteen small 
American Flags, with a large 
American Flag in the center. 
Mrs. Lucy A. Clark, Chairman 
of the Park Committee of the 
George Washington Circle con¬ 
ducted the exercises. The dedi¬ 
catory prayer was offered by 
Dr. T. Fred Hardy. 

Andrew Jenson, Assistant 
Church Historian, and President 
of the Utah State Historical So¬ 
ciety was introduced as the first 
speaker. He took as his theme 
the loyalty of the Mormon peo¬ 
ple to the United States Gov¬ 
ernment. He pointed out that 
notwithstanding the frequent 
failures of the Latter-day Saints 
to obtain from either state or 
nation redress from the wrongs 
perpetrated upon them by mobs 
they had always been true and 
loyal to their country. He re¬ 
ferred to the circumstance of 
Brigham Young sending the 
first telegram over the telegraph 
line from Salt Lake City to 
Hon. J. H. Wade, President of 
the Pacific Telegraph Company, 
Cleveland, Ohio, and quoted 
from the telegram: 

“Hon. J. H. Wade, October 
18, 1861: Utah has not seceded 
but is firm for the Constitution 
and laws of our once happy 
country.” 

President Wade answered as 
follows: 

“I have the honor to ac¬ 
knowledge the receipt of your 
message of last evening, which 


was in every way gratifying, 
not only in the announcement 
of the completion of the Pacific 
Telegraph to your enterprising 
and prosperous city, but that 
yours, the first message to pass 
over the line should express so 
unmistakably the patriotism 
and Union-loving sentiments of 
yourself and people.” 

In the absence of Governor 
Dawson, Secretary Fuller made 
use of the wire to salute Pres¬ 
ident Lincoln as follows: 

“Utah, whose citizens stren¬ 
uously resist all imputations of 
disloyalty, congratulates the 
President upon the completion 
of an enterprise which spans a 
continent, unites two oceans, 
and connects with nerve of iron 
the remote extremities of the 
body politic with the great gov¬ 
ernmental heart. May the whole 
system speedily thrill with the 
quickened pulsations of that 
heart as the parricide hand is 
palsied, treason is punished, and 
the entire sisterhood of States 
join hands in glad reunion 
around the national fireside.” 

President Lincoln replied: 

“The completion of the tele¬ 
graph in Great Salt Lake City 
is auspicious of the stability and 
union of the Republic. The 
Government /reciprocates your 
congratulations.”— Adj. Gen. 
Thomas. 

Mrs. Martha Smith Jensen 
sang, “The Flag Without A 
Stain.” Mrs. Lucy A. Clark 
then introduced as the conclud¬ 
ing speaker, Dr. Seymour B. 
Young, who was an officer in 
the Lot Smith Company, and 
commander of the John Quincy 


158 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


Knowlton Post, Grand Army 
of the Republic, Department of 
Utah. Commander Young 
spoke at length on the splendid 
work which was performed by 
the Captain Lot Smith Com¬ 
pany in guarding the mail and 
telegraph lines during the critic¬ 
al period of the Great Civil 
War. 

Secretary of State Hon. H. 
E. Crockett, in behalf of the 
State of Utah, made the official 



Martha R. Alexander 

announcement that the plot of 
ground due Northeast of the 
Capitol Building, was reserved 
as a Memorial Plot, upon which 
to place a Monument and Mem¬ 
orial trees to the sacred memory 
of the Utah volunteers of the 
Civil War. The plot of ground 
was presented to the George 
Washington Circle, Ladies of 
the Grand Army of the Repub¬ 
lic. The gift was accepted with 
words of appreciation by Mrs. 


Margaret M. Fisher, President, 
in behalf of the Ladies of that 
circle. 

MARTHA REECE 
ALEXANDER 

Martha Reece Alexander was 
born July 8, 1844, Wales, Eng¬ 
land. She was converted to 
Mormonism when a young wo¬ 
man. She sailed for America 
finally arriving at Omaha, Ne¬ 
braska, and walked the entire 
distance of 1,000 miles across 
the plains, arriving in Great 
Salt Lake City in 1863. She 
very soon went south to Wash¬ 
ington City. Washington Coun¬ 
ty, Utah, to make her home. 
At this place she met Moroni 
Woodruff Alexander, who had 
recently returned from service in 
the Lot Smith Expedition of 
1862. They were married in 
Washington City, December 
27th, 1863. 

Mrs. Martha R. Alexander 
(mother of'Mrs. Nellie L. Ly¬ 
on) on April 5, 1910, became 
a Charter member of the Lot 
Smith Circle No. 5, Ladies of 
the Grand Army of the Repub¬ 
lic, at Salt Lake City. She as¬ 
sisted her daughter, Mrs. Lyon, 
in every way possible that the 
Lot Smith Co., United States 
Volunteers and their descend¬ 
ants might receive proper rec¬ 
ognition by the organization of 
the Grand Army of the Repub¬ 
lic and the Ladies of the Grand 
Army of the Republic and be 
permitted a merited connection 
with these patriotic orders. Her 
home is in Washington City, 
Utah. 





x 

G 

os 

4-> 

u 

O 

CU 

CJ 

X 


bo 

os 

G 

os 

<J 
•—4 
4-4 
CJ 

6 

< 

CJ 

X 


zx 

2 d 
< 
4 —r 

G3 O 

bo^ 

'£ *> 
X 


G 

CJ 

X 

• r-H 

CO 

CJ 

u 

a 


'S .§ 


a» 

u 

CD 

X 


CD 

X 


as 

G 

O 

I tH 

4—> 

as 

G 

CJ 

G 

u 

O 

rG 

CO 

o 


x 

cj 

4-4 

G 

CJ 

C/D 

Cl/ 

4h 

04 

G 

4h 

G 


Cl> 

4-4 

03 

bo 

4h 

as 


X 

G 

C3 

4h 

CJ 

CO 


as 

X 

co 

03 

< 

X 

G 

as 


G 

res 

6_- 
x tJ 

CJ CJ 

2 

CQ 

G 
as 

s 

>> 


V4 

cj 

< 

rG 


X 

G 

as 


>4 H3 

£5 
O G 

J CJ 

u S 

Q 

J.y 

P 3 

G 

a & 

gp' 
H cj 

z 3 
w 

c/d 
W 
cG 
cu 


- bO 

. ,-4 

4— 1 

£ _c 

Cl> T-i-t 
> ^ 
G 

O cj 

CJ 4~> 

G 

_, CJ 

JO 
CJ 
4h 

04 


4h 

CJ • —■ 

04 Ph 
04 . 

O C/D 
HH 4h 


G 

O 

*-> 

b) 

G 


X 

CJ 
C/D 

as 

U rO 
CJ CJ 


bO 

as 

G 

as 


as 

CJ 

C/D 

CO 

as 

u 


s 

o 

4-4 


CO 

as 

£ 


as 

G 
G 
G 

S 

4H 

CJ <G 

G3 ~ 
W o 

*a 


CO 

4-4 


<J 

u 

4-1 

CJ 


bo 

as 

<G 

CJ 

rG 

4-4 

X 

CJ 


CO 

£ 

CJ 

u 

X 

G 


4-4 

G 

04 

CO 

as 

* 

bo 

as 

<G3 


CJ 

CO 

as 

X 


CJ 

. X 

<h 

x . 


« ^ H 


E aS 


4-1 

G 


CJ 

CJ 

4-4 

CJ 


O 


O 

CJ 


s 

4-1 

< 

X 

G 

as 

4-1 

u 

CJ 

X 


CD 

CJ 

4-4 

CJ 


O 

CJ 


u 

CJ 

as 

hJ 


as 

00 


4-) 

CJ 

X 

s 

as 

G3 

CJ 


CJ 

CJ 

cj 

as 

O 

X 

£ 


oU 


PtC 

< 

d 


CO 

CJ 

• T-H 

X 

as 

CJ 

G3 

h 


4-4 

CJ 


4-4 

CJ 

G3 

CO 

• H 

Ph 


cj 

X 

as 


a^ 

as 4—1 
n cd 

u £ 
as 
bO 

. 4-< 

cd as 

S5 


CJ 

G3 

4—> 

M-4 

O 

CO 

CJ 


CO 

• 

CJ 

G 

as 

4-4 

Ph 


CO 

4h 


4h 

CJ 

X 

a 

03 

X 

cj 

X 

G 

as 


as 
00 


CJ 

G3 


4 -. 

as O 

JCU 

CJ CJ 

G3G3 


O 

4h 

*4-4 


< 6 
^ O 
... <J 

G V4H 
as o 

• v-H 

cj ». 

*CO CJ 

G »G 

0| 

as <_> 
G 

O X 
*£ G 
as 

c s 

co -P 

as P-i 
co 

G cj 
as *G 


cj G 
PG ^ 
a .*2 

2 § 
rn ^ 
O 04 














160 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


MRS. MARGARET M. 
FISHER 

Margaret May Merrill Fisher, 
wife of Joseph A. Fisher of the 
Lot Smith Company, held the 
position as President of the Lot 
Smith Circle at its organization 
in April, 1910, before it was 
reorganized as the Gen. George 
Washington Circle. She was al¬ 
so chosen first President of the 
Washington Circle. She served 
with rare ability in this capacity 
until April 2, 1918. On the 
19th of January, 1922, she 
again became president of this 
Circle, serving continuously un¬ 
til May 20, 1925, at which 
time she was deservedly elevated 
to the honorable position of 
President of the Department of 
Utah. She served in this ca¬ 
pacity until May 19, 1926. 

While serving in the office 
of Dept. President, she organ¬ 
ized four circles, with the assist¬ 
ance of members of the Depart¬ 
ment. They are: Seymour B. 
Young, Circle of Salt Lake City, 
Joseph S. i Rawlins, Circle of 
Murray, Philip Sheridan, Circle 
of Ogden, presided over by 
Sherma Hendershot. Mrs. Fisher 
was assisted in the organization 
of this circle by Mrs. Lilliebell 
Falck, President of the Abra¬ 
ham Lincoln Circle of Ogden 
and its members, by Asst. Na¬ 
tional Corresponding Sec’y., 
Mary C. MacKay. 

Mrs. Fisher organized the 
Adley B. Lawrence Circle at 
Draper, Utah, and the John Q. 
Knowlton circle at Farmington. 

Mrs. Fisher was appointed in 
the spring of 1921 by the Gov¬ 


ernor of Utah, Hon. Charles 
R. Maybe, as a member of the 
Utah State Memorial Commis¬ 
sion. The purpose of this mem¬ 
orial commission was to erect 
a building to the honor of all 
soldiers, sailors and marines en¬ 
listed into Government service 
from the State :of Utah. 

Mrs. Fisher was Delegate at 
Large from the State of Utah 
to the National Encampment 
held at Los Angeles, California, 
September, 1912. She went 
with her husband and saw for 
the first time the Utah Volun¬ 
teers appear in the National 
Grand Army Parade. They 
were received by the public with 
great enthusiasm. 

She attended the National 
Encampment at Grand Rapids, 
Michigan, in September, 1925, 
where Utah received the first 
prize for patriotic work. 

She was in attendance at the 
National Encampment in Sept., 
1926, held at Des Moines, 
Iowa, where Utah received first 
prize for bringing to the de¬ 
partment the greatest member¬ 
ship per capita, for the year. 

She was President of the 
George Washington Red Cross 
Unit during the World War, 
and holds a Red Cross badge 
for the Unit of twenty-four 
hundred hours work. This badge 
contains two stripes which was 
the highest badge conferred for 
Red Cross work by that organi¬ 
zation. 

Margaret M. Fisher was elect¬ 
ed to the high office of National 
Patriotic Instructor of the La¬ 
dies of the Grand Army of the 
Republic, at the National 


161 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


Grand Army Encampment held 
at Denver, Colorado, Septem¬ 
ber, 1928. 

She formed a “Living Flag’’ 



Elizabeth T. C. Crismon 

for the “United States Flag As¬ 
sociation,’’ in honor of the “Lot 
Smith Company’’ Civil War 
Volunteers. Published the his¬ 
tory of the Utah Expedition of 
1862. 

ELIZABETH T. CRISMON 

Mrs. Elizabeth T. Crismon, 
a diligent and spirited worker, 
served as President of the George 
Washington Circle from March 
19, 1919, to Jan. 19, 1921, 
two splendid years of progress 
for the organization. 

She has filled the honorable 
position of Chaplain of the 
Circle, almost constantly since 
1912. 

She has acted with marked 
ability for years as assistant 
treasurer, assisting our much- 


beloved Treasurer, Leone Bur¬ 
ton. Mrs. Elizabeth T. Cris¬ 
mon received a Red Cross badge 
for eight hundred hours service 
for Red Cross work during the 
World War. She attended the 
National Grand Army Encamp¬ 
ment held at Portland, Oregon, 
1919. and Indianapolis, Indi¬ 
ana. 

She was born at Salt Lake 
City, Utah. She married Char¬ 
les Crismon, Jr., on June 1, 
1871. He was a member of the 
Lot Smith Company. 

One of the objects of the Or¬ 
ganization of the Ladies of the 
Grand Army of the Republic, 
is to remember the old soldiers, 
their widows and fatherless 
children. Mrs. Crismon de¬ 
serves honorable mention for 



Lucy A. Clark 


her wonderful generosity. She 
has given financial assistance 
for every worthy cause, and re¬ 
membered the old comrades, the 
widow and the needy. 




162 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


She has been affectionately 
called “Sister Christmas’’ by nu¬ 
merous little tots. 

LUCY A. CLARK 

Lucy A. Clark was born 
March 5, 1850, at Farmington, 
Davis Co., Utah, and married 
Timothy B. Clark November 
23rd, 1867. 

She served as President of the 
Gen. George Washington Circle 
No. 6, Ladies of the G. A. R. 
from Feb. 20, 1918, to March 
19, 1919. She served as De¬ 
partment Treasurer from May, 
1919, to May, 1920. 

She attended the National 
Encampments at Portland, Ore¬ 
gon; Grand Rapids, Michigan; 
Columbus, Ohio; Kansas City, 
Kansas; and Kansas City, Mis¬ 
souri; also Des Moines, Iowa. 

She is chairman of the Mem¬ 
orial Park Committee for the 
plot of ground which was pre¬ 
sented by the State of Utah 
(through Hon. H. E. Crockett, 
Sec. of State) to the Washing¬ 
ton Circle, to hold as a mem¬ 
orial park, dedicated to the 
memory of the Utah Civil War 
Volunteers. This plot of ground 
is situated on the State Capitol 
grounds, east of the State Cap¬ 
itol Building. It was given 
when Hon. Charles R. Maybe 
was Governor of Utah, where 
a memorial to the Lot Smith 
Co. and the Col. Robt. T. Bur¬ 
ton Co. will yet be placed. 

During the chairmanship of 
Mrs. Lucy A. Clark, there have 
been planted one hundred mem¬ 
orial trees on the State Capitol 
grounds. She is also chairman 
of the plot of ground given by 


the City to the Gen. George 
Washington Circle in City 
Creek Canyon as a memorial 
park. This was bestowed un¬ 
der the Mayorship of C. Clar¬ 
ence Neslen. 

Mrs. Clark is a niece of Adel- 
bert Rice of the Lot Smith Co. 

During the World War, Lucy 
A. Clark was Secretary of the 
Geo. Washington unit (Red 
Cross) at which time she com¬ 
posed a song later called “The 
American Army Song,” which 
practically went through the al¬ 
lied armies. She received con¬ 
gratulations for the poem from 
the commanders of the armies 
both in Europe and America. 

AMERICAN ARMY SONG 

O Thou, the God of truth and 
right, 

Be now Thine armies blest; 

We raise the flag of liberty 
To succor the oppressed. 

O Thou, who ruleth hosts that 
fight 

In Freedom’s holy cause, 

Give power to break the ty¬ 
rants’ yoke, 

Establish righteous laws. 

Prepare the way, O powerful 
One, 

We bring our lives, our all 
To lift the struggling nations 
up, 

Hear us, O hear our call. 

Chorus : 

We come— We come in mighty 
throngs 

To do the Christian’s part, 

The hungry feed, 

The naked clothe, 

Bind up the broken heart. 

—Lucy A. Clark. 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


163 



Mary C. Mac Kay 

This song was set to music 
by Prof. Evan Stephens, well 
known leader of the tabernacle 
choir, and by Tracy Y. Cannon, 
Asst. Tabernacle organist and 
played by Captain Charles 
Hawkins military band, 145th 
Utah Vol. of the World War. 

MARY C. MACKAY 

Mrs. Mary C. MacKay was 
born April 24, 1866, in Mill 
Creek, Utah. She married Wil¬ 
liam Wallace MacKay on De¬ 
cember 21, 1889, Logan, Utah. 
She is a daughter of Lars Jensen 
and niece of James Cragun, 
Utah Volunteers of 1862, of 
the Lot Smith Company. 

January 19, 1921, she was 
installed as President of the Geo. 
Washington Circle. She served 
with grace and ability until Jan. 
19, 1922. 

She has filled many offices of 
responsibility and trust, one of 


these being the office of Depart¬ 
ment Patriotic Instructor. 

Mrs. MacKay attended the 
National Grand Army Encamp¬ 
ment at Portland, Oregon, in 
1919, and Des Moines, Iowa, 
Sept., 1926. When attending 
the Encampment at Grand 
Rapids, Michigan, Sept., 1925, 
the National President, Mrs. 
Lida E. Manson, was imme¬ 
diately attracted by her and 
placed Mrs. MacKay on her Na¬ 
tional Staff as National Assistant 
Corresponding Secretary, which 
national position she held un¬ 
til September, 1926. Mrs. 
MacKay also attended the Na¬ 
tional Grand Army Encamp¬ 
ment at Denver, Colorado, 
1928. 

On numerous important oc¬ 
casions, the Society has profited 
by her wonderful executive abil¬ 
ity and generous assistance, oc- 



Cora Fisher Smith 
casions which required arduous 
labor and wise judgment. 








164 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


CORA FISHER SMITH 
Cora Fisher was born Nov. 
29, 1865, at Coalville, Summit 
Co., Utah. She married Wil¬ 
lard Finley Smith on May 5, 
1887, at Logan, Utah. She 
was a daughter of Joseph A. 
Fisher of the Lot Smith Com¬ 
pany. She has earned a name 
of honor on the active roll of 
the Ladies of the G. A. R. 

January 18, 1926 she became 
Senior Vice-President of the 
Washington Circle. By reason 
of the illness of the President 
of the Circle, Sister Zina Y. 
Card, who lay in the hospital 
for weeks, Mrs. Cora F. Smith 
served with charm and person¬ 
ality as President of the Wash¬ 
ington Circle from April, 1926 
to October, 1926. She served 
with diligence and honor as 
Dept. Teasurer from May 21, 
1925 to May 20, 1926. 

She enjoyed two National 
Encampments, at Los Angeles 
in 1912, and shortly afterward 
one at Rochester, New York. 

During the World War she 
received a Red Cross badge, rep¬ 
resenting sixteen hundred hours' 
patriotic work, one stripe. Her 
heart was with the “dough¬ 
boys,’' having three sons en¬ 
listed. She has won signal 
honors as Chairman of Refresh¬ 
ment Committees, also Amuse¬ 
ment Entertainment and Mem¬ 
orial Day committees. 

MARTHA L. MURPHY 
Martha L. Murphy, a daugh¬ 
ter of Lars Jensen of the Lot 
Smith Company, is deserving of 
having her name preserved on 
the roll of honor of Utah wom¬ 
en who have been active in G. 


A. R. circles. From February 
23, 1925, to June 15, 1925, 
she served efficiently as Secretary 
of the George Washington 
Circle. On the last named date 
she was elevated to the position 
of President of this Circle, 
which position she held until 
September of the same year. 

LEAH SMITH BATTSON 
AND CAROL SMITH 
MCDONOUGH 

Daughters of Cora F. Smith, 
and granddaughters of Joseph 
A. Fisher of the Utah volunteers 
of 1862, have been active mem¬ 
bers of the George Washington 
Circle since its organization. 
Mrs. Battson holds a Red Cross 
badge for 800 hours work. 

MYRZA M. MORRIS 


Myrza M. Morris, niece of 
Moroni Woodruff Alexander of 
the Lot Smith Company, has 



Della R. Henry 

Past National President Ladies of the 
G. A. R. 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


165 


been an active member of the 
Washington Circle for a number 
of years. By rare skill and 
patience, she nursed eight pa¬ 
tients through the influenza 
without remuneration, at the 
time of the World War. She 
holds a Red Cross badge for 
1600 hours work, one stripe. 
She is full of love, sympathy 
and charity for others. Risking 
her life in this cause, she con¬ 
tracted this dreaded disease 
which was so malignant at that 
time. She finally recovered. 

DELLA R. HENRY 

Della R. Henry, National 
President of the Ladies of the 
Grand Army of the Republic 
from Sept. 1909, to Sept. 1910. 
She was elected President at the 
National Encampment at Salt 
Lake City, Utah. It was dur¬ 
ing her term of office that the 



Nellie R. Me Millan 


Past National President Ladies of the 
G. A. R. 


Lot Smith Circle was organized 
by Mrs. Nellie L. Lyon. 

NELLIE R. MCMILLAN 
Nellie R. McMillan, National 
President from Sept., 1924 to 
Sept., 1925. The encampment 




Lida E. Manson 

Past National President Ladies G. A. 

R. 

was at Grand Rapids, Michigan. 
She worked for the benefit of 
the Department of Utah, also 
when she was Secretary to Na¬ 
tional President Della R. Henry 
in 1909 and 1910. Under the 
administration of Nellie R. Mc¬ 
Millan, Utah received 1st prize 
for patriotic work, the prize be¬ 
ing offered by National Treas¬ 
urer Grace A. Seebers. The prize 
was an oleograph history of the 
Stars and Stripes and hangs on 
the wall in the State Capitol 
Building. 

LIDA E. MANSON 
Lida E. Manson, National 
President, who assisted the De- 






166 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


partment of Utah. During her 
term of office, four new circles 
were organized in the Depart¬ 
ment of Utah, 1925 to Sept., 
1926. For this work, the Dept, 
of Utah received the first prize 
at the National Convention at 
Des Moines, Iowa. The prize 
was a beautiful flag presented by 
the National Secretary, Elma B. 
Dalton. 



Zina Y. Card 

Daughter of Brigham Young 


ZINA Y. CARD 

Zina Y. Card was elected and 
installed Nov. 18, 1925, as 
President of the Gen. George 
Washington Circle No. 6, Dept, 
of Utah, Ladies of the Grand 
Army of the Republic. As De¬ 
partment Chaplain, she has 
never been equaled. 

She was born April 3, 1850, 
in Salt Lake City. She was 


married to Thomas Williams, 
October 12, 1868, who later 
passed away. Married Chas. 
Ora Card, June 17, 1884, at 
Logan, Utah. Zina Y. Card is 
a sister of Brigham Young, Jr. 
and John W. Young of the 
Robt. T. Burton Co. She is 
also a relative of Seymour B. 
Young, Lot Smith Co., and a 
daughter of President Brigham 
Young. 

She is a loyal and patriotic 
woman, capable of serving in 
any capacity, her God, her State, 
and her Country. 

EFFIE SMITH PALMER 

EfRe Smith Palmer, daughter 
of Captain Lot Smith and Pres¬ 
ident of the J. Q. Knowlton 
Circle at Farmington, Davis 
County, Utah, is well-loved and 
perhaps best remembered for the 
excellent dinners she served the 
old soldiers and their descend¬ 
ants on Memorial Day celebra¬ 
tions, when the remnant of the 
Command visited the grave of 
Captain Lot Smith to honor his 
memory. 

JUNE KASTELER 

June Kasteler was born May 
4, 1893, at Murray, Utah. She 
married Alma Kasteler, June 7, 
1916, at Salt Lake City, Utah. 
She is the granddaughter of Ed¬ 
win Brown of the Lot Smith 
Co. Mrs. Kasteler is past 
Department Treasurer of the 
Department of Utah, Ladies of 
the G. A. R., having been elected 
at the Department Encampment 
held at the Hotel Utah at Salt 
Lake City, May, 1927. She 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


167 


has also served as Department 
Patriotic Instructor, and on the 
council of Administration. 



Nellie L. Lyon 

National Organizer. 


MINERVA MILLER 

Minerva Miller was born 
March 30, 1890, at East Mill 
Creek. She is a grandniece of 


Bishop John Neff, grandniece of 
Benjamin Neff and grandniece 
of Joseph A. Fisher, all who 
served with the Lot Smith Co. 
of 1862, Civil War expedition 
from Utah. She married James 
A. Miller, nephew of Reuben P. 
Miller of the Lot Smith Co., 
October 8, 1914, at Salt Lake 
City, Utah. 

She is Past Department Sen¬ 
ior Vice-President of Utah. 
Also Past President of the Sey¬ 
mour B. Young Circle, No. 10, 
Ladies of the G. A. R., and 
Past Department Chaplain, a 
position where she was a delight 
unto all attending the conven¬ 
tion of 1929, in the Elks Hall 
at Salt Lake City, Utah. 

JENNIE BOBERG 

Jennie Boberg is the daugh¬ 
ter of Charles Burnham of the 
Lot Smith Company. She mar¬ 
ried D. R. Boberg in Salt Lake 
City. She is President of the 
Adley B. Lawrence Circle No. 
13, Draper, Utah, Ladies of 
the G. A. R. 



COURT OF INQUIRY TO 
DETERMINE THE ELIGI¬ 
BILITY OF THE UTAH 
VOLUNTEERS OF 1862 TO 
MEMBERSHIP IN THE 
GRAND ARMY OF THE 
REPUBLIC, DEPARTMENT 
OF UTAH 

Prior to 1910, H. C. Hui- 
linger and Charles Crismon, Jr., 
both of the Captain Lot Smith 
Company of cavalry, had been 
accredited members of the Oliver 
O. Howard Post No. 7, Grand 
Army of the Republic. In April, 
1910, their eligibility to mem¬ 
bership was questioned. The 
dispute as to their right to mem¬ 
bership lead Thomas Lundy, 
the Department Commander of 
the Grand Army of the Re¬ 
public for the State of Utah, to 
appoint a court of inquiry, to 
inquire into the eligibility of 
H. C. Hullinger and Charles 
Crismon, Jr., to membership. 

This court of inquiry was ap¬ 
pointed June 16, 1910; and 
was composed of the following 
named persons: 

W. M. Bostaph, Dix-Logan 
Post. President. 

Geo. A. Black, Oliver O. 
Howard Post. 

H. F. Snyder, Dix-Logan 
Post. 

Walter C. Veazie, Oliver O. 
Howard Post. 

S. D. Chase, Jas. B. McKean 
Post. 

Comrade E. W. Tatlock, to 
be Judge Advocate. 

R. G. Sleater, Assistant Ad¬ 
jutant General. 


Thomas Lundy, Department 
Commander. 

On the 16th of July, 1910, 
the court of inquiry submitted 
to the department commander, 
Thomas Lundy, its written 
findings and decisions as fol¬ 
lows: 

“Ogden, Utah, July 16, 1910. 
To Thomas Lundy, 

Department Commander, 
TVpartment of Utah, 

Grand Army of the 
Republic. 

In accordance with your Spe¬ 
cial Order No. 1, of date June 
16th, 1910, appointing a 

COURT OF INQUIRY for the 
purpose of inquiring into the 
legality of the membership of 
Charles Crismon, Jr. and H. C. 
Hullinger, as members of the 
Grand Army of the Republic, 
and to hear and determine other 
matters which may come before 
said Court, pertaining to the 
good of the G. A. R. and the 
members thereof, W. M. Bos¬ 
taph, George A. Black, Walter 
C. Veazie, S. D. Chase (H. F. 
Snyder, the fifth member of the 
Court, being absent from the 
Department), and E. W. Tat¬ 
lock, Judge Advocate, assem¬ 
bled at the time and place ap¬ 
pointed in the order, and after 
being duly qualified as a Court 
of Inquiry, proceeded to hear 
the testimony presented, touch¬ 
ing the matters in controversy, 
and on the 12th day of July, 
1910, having heard all the testi¬ 
mony and all the papers sum- 
mitted concerning the matters 
in controversy, and having made 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


169 


inguiry and obtained all the 
testimony that it, the Court, 
could obtain, and after having 
fully considered all the testi¬ 
mony, facts and circumstances, 
make the following findings, 
viz.: 

and having made inquiry and 
obtained all the testimony that 
it, the Court, could obtain, and 
after having fully considered all 
the testimony, facts and circum¬ 
stances, make the following 
findings, viz: 

1. That said Charles Cris- 
mon, Jr. and H. C. Hullinger 
were members of the Lot Smith 
Company of Utah Cavalry. 

2. That said Company was 
enlisted under an order of the 
War Department of the United 
States, dated April 28, 1862, 
under a call from President Lin¬ 
coln, to serve for three months, 
and were assigned the specifit 
duty of guarding the mails, and 
other property, in the Territory 
of Utah and Wyoming. 

3. That said Charles Cris- 
mon, Jr. and H. S. Hullinger 
were sworn into the service of 
the United States as members 
of said Company, to serve for 
three months on April 30, 
1862, by Judge Kinney, then a 
Supreme Judge of the Territory 
of Utah. 

4. That said Charles Cris- 
mon, Jr. and H. C. Hullinger 
served the term of their enlist¬ 
ment in said Company, and that 
during said term of service said 
Company was subject to the 
orders of the General Officers of 
the United States, viz: Col. 
Collins, at one time in command 
of the 6th Iowa Cavalry, and 


Brigadier General James Creig. 

5. That on the expiration of 
the term of service, said Charles 
Crismon, Jr. and H. C. Hul¬ 
linger returned with the Com¬ 
pany to Utah, and were on 
August 14th, 1862, discharged 
from further service, under said 
enlistment. 

6. That subsequently the said 
Charles Crismon, Jr. and H. C. 
Hullinger were paid by the Gov¬ 
ernment of the United States for 
their services in said Company. 

7. That about 1883 dis¬ 
charge certificates, in the usual 
form, were issued by the Gov¬ 
ernment of the United States, 
and delivered to Charles Cris¬ 
mon, Jr. and H. C. Hullinger. 

8. That both Charles Cris¬ 
mon, Jr. and H. C. Hullinger 
are, at the present time, pen¬ 
sioners of the United States. 

9. *That Charles Crismon, 
Jr. is a member of the National 
Soldier’s Home at Santa Monica, 
California: that he is now on 
furlough. 

10. That neither said Char¬ 
les Crismon, Jr. nor H. C. Hul¬ 
linger ever bore arms against the 
Government of the United 
States. 

THEREFORE: Your Court 
of Inquiry finds, that under Sec. 
10, Article 4 of the Rules and 
Regulations of the Grand Army 
of the Republic, said Charles 
Crismon, Jr. and H. C. Hul¬ 
linger possess the proper quali¬ 
fications, and are entitled to 
membership in the Grand Army 
of the Republic, and that they 

*Charles Crismon, Jr. was at 
the Soldier’s Home three months 
for treatment. 



170 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


are now legal members of the 
Oliver O. Howard Post No. 7, 
Department of Utah, Grand 
Army of the Republic. 

A transcript of the testimony 
taken and all the papers sub¬ 
mitted to this Court, are re¬ 
turned with these FINDINGS, 
and while some of this testi¬ 
mony touches upon matters 
other than the qualifications of 
Charles Crismon, Jr. and H. C. 
Hullinger, the Court has taken 
no cognizance of any matter not 
directly bearing on the qualifi¬ 
cations of these two men, and in 
no sense presumes to pass on, or 
determine any other fact touched 
on in the testimony. 

All of which is respectfully 
submitted. 

(Signed) . 

W. M. Bostaph, President, 
George A. Black, 

S. D. Chase, and 
Walter C. Veazie, 

Court of Inquiry. 
APPROVED. This 18th day 
of July, 1910. 

Thomas Lundy, 

Department Commander, 
Department of Utah. 
ATTEST. 

R. G. Sleater, 

Asst. Adjutant General. 

Exhibit “C.“ 

An appeal was taken from 
the decision of the court of in¬ 
quiry to Samuel R. Van Sant, 
Commander-in-Chief of the 
Grand Army of the Republic, 
sent from the George R. Max¬ 
well Post No. 5, Department of 
Utah. The decision, however, 
on appeal was not rendered un¬ 
til April 27, 1911. On that 


date, J. E. Gilman, the Com¬ 
mander-in-Chief of the Grand 
Army of the Republic, for¬ 
warded to Comrade R. G. 
Sleater, Assistant Adjutant 
General, G. A. R., the decision 
as follows: 

State House, Boston, Mass., 
April 27, 1911. 

Washington, D. C., April 11, 
1911. 

Comrade John E. Gilman, 
Commander-in-Chief G. A. R. 

State House, Boston, Mass. 
My Dear Commander-in-Chief: 

I beg to acknowledge receipt 
of your favor of Feb. 23, 1911, 
in the case of Charles Crismon, 
Jr. and H. C. Hullinger, of the 
Department of Utah, which has 
come up to you on appeal from 
the decision of the Commander 
of that Department, the ques¬ 
tion involved being their eligi¬ 
bility to membership in the 
Grand Army of the Republic. 

The facts in the case, as 
nearly as I can make out from 
the record, are as folows: 

On April 28, 1862, the Ad¬ 
jutant General of the Army, by 
express direction of President 
Lincoln telegraphed to Brigham 
Young of Salt Lake City, the 
authority to raise, arm, and 
equip one Company of Cavalry 
for 90 days’ service. 

The Company was promptly 
organized, and its members were 
mustered into the United States 
service, and the organization 
was known as “Captain Lot 
Smith’s Company of Utah 
Cavalry.’’ 

Among those who enlisted in 
this Company, were Charles 
Crismon, Jr. and Harvey C. 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


171 


Hullinger, and they were dis¬ 
charged upon the expiration of 
their term of service. 

These Comrades were subse¬ 
quently admitted to membership 
in one of the Grand Army Posts 
in Salt Lake City. 

After the lapse of consider¬ 
able time, the question as to 
their eligibility was raised, and, 
if I may judge by the record, 
considerable bitterness of feeling 
has grown out of the case. 
There have been numerous pro¬ 
ceedings, including appeals and 
a Court of Inquiry, but it will 
not be necessary for me to go 
into details. The most of the 
facts alleged and denied in the 
record of the case, and the argu¬ 
ments used for and against the 
eligibility of these Comrades, 
are immaterial and need not be 
considered. 

I have examined the official 
records in the War Department 
and find the determination of 
the question very simple. In 
fact, the confusion in these pro¬ 
ceedings from first to last, has 
arisen because no one has taken 
the pains to go to the root of 
the matter by examining the of¬ 
ficial records, which, of course, 
are conclusive in a case of this 
kind. 

The records of the War De¬ 
partment show that Lot 
Smith’s Company of Utah 
Cavalry was duly mustered into 
the Military Service of the 
United States Army. The rec¬ 
ords of that Company on file 
in the War Department, show 
that Charles Crismon and Har¬ 
vey C. Hullinger were mustered 


into the Military Service of the 
United States, as privates, April 
30, 1862. 

Article 4, Chap. 1, of the 
Rules and Regulations of the 
Grand Army of the Republic, 
provides as follows: 

“Soldiers and Sailors of the 
United States Army, Navy or 
Marine Corps, who served be¬ 
tween April 12, 1861 and April 
9, 1865, in the War for the sup¬ 
pression of the Rebellion * * 
and having been honorably dis¬ 
charged therefrom after such 
service, shall be eligible to mem¬ 
bership in the Grand Army of 
the Republic.” 

This organization was not a 
Militia Company, and the ques¬ 
tion as to whether or not it was 
in active service and subject to 
the orders of the United States 
General Officers, has no bearing 
upon the case. 

This organization was just as 
much a part of the Army of the 
United States, as were any of 
the Regiments that formed the 
great armies of the East and 
West. 

I, therefore, advise you that 
inasmuch as the official records 
of the Government show that 
these men were duly mustered 
into the Military Service of the 
United States on April 30, 
1862, and were honorably dis¬ 
charged therefrom on the 14th 
day of August, 1862, they are 
eligible to membership in the 
Grand Army of the Republic. 

Yours in F. C. U L. 

(Signed) Thomas S. Hopkins, 
Judge Advocate General. 


172 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


Comrade R. G. Sleater, 

Asst. Adjt. Genl. G. A. R., 

57 Post Office Place, 

Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Dear Sir and Comrade: 

On the question of the appeal 
of George R. Maxwell Post No. 
5, Department of Utah, from 
the decision of the Department 
Commander, sustaining the 
findings of the Court of In¬ 
quiry, as to the eligibility of 
Charles Crismon, Jr. and H. C. 
Hullinger, to membership in the 
Grand Army of the Republic, 
it is hereby ORDERED: 

That the decision of the De¬ 
partment Commander be sus¬ 
tained, and that the aforesaid 
Comrades, Crismon and Hul¬ 
linger be declared members of 
the Grand Army of the Repub¬ 
lic, as shown by the clear and 
exhaustive opinion of the 
Judge-Advocate, hereto annex¬ 
ed. 

The appeal of the George R. 
Maxwell Post No. 5, Depart¬ 
ment of Utah, is therefore, not 
approved. 

Sincerely yours in F. C. & L., 

J. E. Gilman, 

Commander in Chief. 

E. B. Stillings, 

Adjutant General. 

The foregoing decision of the 
Commander-in-Chief of the G. 
A. R. settled for all time the 
question of the eligibility of the 
Utah Volunteers of 1862 to 
membership in the G. A. R., 
and determined with absolute 
finality their right to such hon¬ 
ored membership. 


BRIGHAM YOUNG, 
PATRIOT 

Brigham Young was a de¬ 
scendant of a long line of Amer¬ 
ican patriots. His grand¬ 
father, Joseph Young, who 
served as physician and surgeon 
in the Colonial army was at 
the siege of Fort Henry, in the 
French and Indian war. 

His father and two uncles, 
Joseph and William Young, 
served in the Colonial army; 
Brigham’s father serving four 
engagements under General 
George Washington. It is re¬ 
ported that on several occasions 
Washington said, “Young, you 
are a small soldier, but you are 
a good one.’’ 

Brigham Young sent many 
petitions to State and Federal au¬ 
thorities seeking protection from 
mob violence in Missouri and 
Illinois. The answer was, 
“Your cause is just but I can do 
nothing for you.’’ 

Lifting the flag of loyalty 
from the dust of martyrdom, 
Brigham Young led the people 
out toward the barren desolate 
plain, into the Indian wilder¬ 
ness of the West. He was halted 
on his way by the United States 
officials, and required to raise a 
battalion of 500 men to join 
the United States forces then ar¬ 
rayed against Mexico. 

Brigham Young had pre¬ 
viously requested the privilege 
of furnishing men to serve in 
this conflict. He drew from his 
wagon of precious necessities the 
Stars and Stripes, called on the 
Brass and String bands, who 
were a part of the fleeing thou¬ 
sands, to strike up their martial 


UTAH AND THE CIVIL WAR 


173 


airs, and added his own ringing 
appeal, “To give all, life if nec¬ 
essary, in defense of their coun¬ 
try.” He said, “Let the Mor¬ 
mons be the first to set their feet 
on California soil. I want to 
say to every man, the Constitu¬ 
tion of the United States as 
framed by our fathers, was dedi¬ 
cated, was revealed, was put into 
their hearts by the Almighty, 
and I tell you in the name of 
Jesus Christ, it is as good as ever 
I could ask for.” 

In three days the force was 
reported mustered, organized 
and ready to march. 

Brigham Young’s first act up¬ 
on reaching Salt Lake Valley, 
was to hoist the American Flag, 
and take possession of the sur¬ 
rounding territory in the name 
of the United States Govern¬ 
ment. This was then Mexican 
soil. 

In 1850 he was officially 
recognized as Governor of the 
Territory of Utah, by President 
Millard Fillmore, and served 
until 1857. He organized the 
territorial militia to protect the 
people from the Indians, yet his 
constant instructions were: 
“Feed the Indians, don’t fight 
them.” 

In 1862 he called for volun¬ 
teers to serve on the North for 


the Preservation of the Union 
and Freedom from slavery. 
Those who volunteered were 
on the march in three days. 

We find that his patriotic 
spirit has been carried down 
through his posterity, in that he 
had descendants in practically 
every branch of military service 
in the late World War. 

He founded cities and towns in 
Utah, Idaho, Nevada and Wyo¬ 
ming. Established irrigation 
for arid lands, and redeemed this 
great Inter-mountain Desert. 

“Judged by those standards 
which are recognized as neces¬ 
sary to count one among the 
great, Brigham Young seems to 
me to run the whole gamut of 
qualifications. Courage under 
trying circumstances, ability to 
organize and hold, far-sighted 
even to the point of being pro¬ 
phetic, open-hearted and with a 
willingness to meet his foes half¬ 
way, he stands out among the 
world’s noted leaders, and he 
is the peer of any of them. 

Somehow he knew intuitively 
what was the right thing to do, 
as if nature, or God had en¬ 
dowed him with a second sight. 
His work untold generations will 
bless, his word untold millions 
will follow .”—Charles R. Ma- 
bey, Governor of Utah, 1921- 
25. 


THE END 


















































ft 



I 

















» 





r 




































































